Aren't I Glorious?

One... two.. too many characters over here, Blog for all my roleplay endeavors.

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

WELCOME! I think...

hi! I made this blog for general rp purposes, like to keep track of things like my characters and whatnot. (*cough* And also so I don't feel as awkward replying with my main blog *cough*)

My main blog is @mepsratwizard

even though this is supposed to mainly be for me interacting with other blogs, if you are enamored by one of my precious blorbos and wish to interact with them specifically, feel free to shoot an ask my way!

_________________________________

RULES:

No explicitly sexual or NSFW asks

Trigger warnings to anything that needs any

Any anon asks go to Emcee unless you otherwise specify which character you're talking to

Harass the characters not me

Have fun! ❤️

(May add more rules later if people decide to actually interact with this I've never done this before)

_________________________________

MY CHARACTERS

CHARACTER RP MASTERPOST

🎤Mr. Emcee

Another nyarlathotep and a darling entertainer with a pension for gameshows (usually with people dying)

🎤🎵 is Lillith

🎤🪕 Is Janus

🎤🔫 is Iggy

🎤💉 is Medic

🎤🧿 are The Watchers

🎤🪡 is The Tailor

🎤💛 is Arthur and John (currently not in use anymore)

⚜️ Kthanid

ALL OTHER CHARACTER UNDER CUT

Wife Guy A.K.A. Guy Hemlocke

A surprisingly well adjusting guy in his early 30s

His wife is a cryptid

His tag is "wife guy" here and on the waylay management blog

Gnute

A calico cat with a third eye that eats dreams

Belongs to the Manager

likes knocking things off desks

🦐Little Lamb/Whisper (currently with @/waylay-management-2)

Little lamb [was] a vessel for Whisper

See this post for more details on them

Little Lamb is now dead

Kay

A very handsome looking corpse?

He's sorta anywhere I want to put him

either the dark world or wandering around dead

[waylay-managment-2]

*The first month of "weekly check-ins" Emcee attacked The Manager on sight, clearly refusing to talk in any capacity*

*Observing him afterward, he still seemed otherwise aggravated, tearing through his own home and destroying things, killing the odd servant that hadn't taken the opportunity to hide from the main halls*

(I'm doing a chunk by chunk sort of playthrough of my timeline with this guy to get glimpses into what's happening so it'll jump forward bit by bit until I get to my "main event")

-🎤 ( @rp-sideblog-incorporated )

*so they watched and waited. Waited for him to realize what he’d done.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*It was midway through the second month when The Manager found Emcee curled up in a corner, unmoving and silent. His eyes were open but they were glazed.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t care.*

“Are you ready to admit that stealing a child from their parents, if their parents are loving and kind, is wrong?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there's a long deep sigh in response.*

*he was like that for the next few weeks, silent and unmoving begore he finally did decide to respond to their question*

It's not stealing if she was mind in the first place.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay. Let’s say I believe that she was yours to begin with. Hypothetically, if she wasn’t, would it be morally good to take her?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a long silence.*

I don't care. Why are you dying on this hill?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Because with you, the violence was justified by the voices. But you yourself wanted this. It wasn’t something asking you too, it was you yourself.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he growled, turning his head towards them*

You may take your leave now.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*and they did.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*two more week, about partway through the third month when Emcee was finally up and about again*

*this time he seemed to be searching for something, paying The Manager very little mind as he looked under tables and paced the hallway.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“What are you looking for?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I-

I dont..

*he was still searching, confused.*

Where- where is she?

*he started to make down the hall at a brisk pace*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Where is who?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked terribly sad.*

I... I don't know...

I can't find her...

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kneeled down to him.*

“Emcee. Are you looking for Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked up at them, the cogs turning much too slow before he recognized the name*

Yes! Yes. Lillith, I am looking for.... Lillith...

*he trailed off, staring off into the distance.*

Where... is she?

[waylay-managment-2]

“She’s somewhere safe. She’s with her father.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

what?

No...

No no no NO!

She should be with ME!

I'm her- I'm her.... I'm...

*he clutched his head with a groan, eyes darkening into a glare.*

Get out.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*so they left.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it only seemed to get worse as time went on, confusion turning to desperation, desperation to aggravation.*

*by the time the manager got there at the start of the fourth month, something was already happening *

*people, the servants and "actors" as Emcee called them, were fleeing in terror. There was already blood on the walls and the entire floating island emcee had built from tip to tail shuddered*

*even the centaurpedes looked terrified, hiding away in the little books and crannies they could find*

*there was a scream, and the entire place lurched to the side with a groan, throwing the manager to the side*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they ran to Emcee and yelled his name.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they found him alright because he came crashing straight through the wall. He was barely able to fit inside the hallways even though they were already hugely built*

*another ear peircing screech rattled the building and shattered glass. At first it looked like he was fighting somebody else with how bad he was struggling, throwing and getting thrown off the wall.*

YOU HAVE LIED TO ME

I HAVE BEEN HELPING

IT'S YOUR FAULT SHE'S GONE! YOURS! AND YOU MAKE ME FORGET HER?

IT WAS NECESSARY.

*they crashed through the next wall, the building cocking to its side caused the ceiling to start collapsing in on the manager. They cursed in an ancient tongue of roiling chaos through pitches of reality warping anger, and they were tearing each other apart with it*

THE MANAGER WAS RIGHT. WE'RE HORRIBLE.

[waylay-managment-2]

“No. You’re not. Not all of you.”

*they held the building up to ensure no one else got hurt.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*one (both?) seemed to pause, just now registering the presence of the Manager nearby. But it gave the other enough time.*

*there was a cackle*

*one or both screamed*

*and then there was a horrible tearing of meat and sinews and bones cracking. They whipped each other back and forth in the confusion and pain.*

GET. BACK. HERE.

NO!

*one was pulling away, the other was trying to drag them back into the main mass, the building shook and crumbling ceiling became heavier as more rock collapsed down around them.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Managers tendrils shot out and helped to pull the two apart.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*with one last lurch of the building, the two collapsing into heaps once the split was complete. There was a long and quiet pause as they stared at one another, in awe, in fear, in confusion, enraged. Detangled*

*one darted, the other gave chase.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager got between them, stopping the chasing one.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

NO!

OUT OF MY WAY.

This has nothing to do with you.

*it was smaller even now struggling to get around them with hissing and trying to bite them. The other scrambling down the hallway until it disappeared out of sight.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kicked the thing, trying to net it down.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it screeched, and spread itself apart to worm through the holes of the net, fleeing from the manager to find its other half in another way*

[waylay-managment-2]

*so instead, they went to find the other half first.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it wasn't very hard, or very far. A blood trail streaked across the dusty golden floors, leading towards a small very empty room with ornate carvings in the walls.*

*when the manager found him he seemed to be trying to put his body together, struggling tendrils forming into limbs and humanoid features. Much slower, much more painfully that it should have been. He looked like a wounded animal, shaking covered in blood on the ground.*

*he was sobbing, flinching and whimpering when something inside snapped back into place. He had no strength to get up, let alone put any clothing so he had no clothing to dull the sensations of the cold.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pulled him into their arms, pulling up rock around them so they would be hidden.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee looked at The Manager in fear, confusion, maybe even embarrassment as he couldn't find the strength to sit up. He felt strangely empty, strangely quiet.*

*he gripped them as he dry heaved, there wasn't anything inside himself to throw up but the pressure inside his chest from everything rearranging itself made him nauseous.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. You’re okay.”

*they gently held his shoulders, keeping him steady.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

nnh ghk

Hngno hno no its-

*he choked on his own gag*

I'm so sorryhyhhghg

*he started heaving again between sobs, which knocked the breath out of him with each heave*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, wiping drool from his mouth.*

Nooughh.

No no. You were right. It's wrong, I miss herrrr

*he falls into another fit of sobs, the rest of his words garbled in half hearted attempted to speak drowned out by his own crying.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looks up at the manager, snuffling and shaking*

Is she at least okay?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Yes. She’s perfectly fine.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he let out a deep withering sigh, letting his head drop again.*

Should I have never taken her? Am I really not meant for this?

[waylay-managment-2]

“You are meant for it. But no, you shouldn’t have taken her.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, then startles as The Other dropped down on top of where they were with a snarl, Emcee started shaking badly eyes wide. Despite not seeing it, he could clearly sense it when it was close. It was him after all*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager growled back, holding Emcee closer.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Bring him back. We cannot last like this!

*there was a scratching as it tried to find any way in.*

*Emcee's body had finished morphing into its current more humanoid state. He still had cuts and bruises but his bones had stopped popping into place*

LET. ME. IN.

*there was a bang from outside as it slammed against the rock*

[waylay-managment-2]

“No!”

*they pulled Emcee close.*

“I’ll let you in later!”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee stared wide eyed and useless. He couldn't deny the pulling urge to return, he was also terrified of what would happen if they did.*

I can't stay here.

*The one on the outside, the director, screamed*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know. I’ll let you out in a minute.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Director kept banging against the rock, pacing and hissing in increased anger and maybe even a little desperation*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Emcee. You’re a good person. You are a good person. The director isn’t. But you are.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

But we are two halves of the same whole, tthere's very little hope in that regard.

To keep us separated is USELESS!

*Emcee shook his head, covering his ears*

I'm still a liar and a murderer, our decisions were shared.

[waylay-managment-2]

“But you’re the part that regrets it. He’s the part that doesn’t.”

*they took Emcee’s face in their hands.*

“You deserve to be a father. I’m sorry that your other half, the one who doesn’t regret anything, can’t let you be.”

*the rocks fell away.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee could only sink into the warm touch of their hands, looking scared when the rocks fell away.*

Please

*the director hissed as the rocks fell away, shaking off the dust, growling at them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they put their forehead to his.*

“I’ll give you a child that can’t feel when you hurt it. It’ll be just like before. You both will be happy. Machines make beautiful things.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he stared at them, stunned and confused. *

I- you....

What the fuck!?

*Emcee pulled away sharply, rolling away clumsily as The Director lunged for him. Scrambling to his feet as the creature shook itself off after hitting the wall in a daze*

*he looked back at the manager with nothing but fear and disgust, backing away towards the door.*

*he opened his mouth to say something, then heard the director growl and instead bolted again. Bare feet padding across broken hallways.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Manager went looking for Kthanid about a day after it happened. Looking to see if they could find Lillith. Looking to see if they had messed something up.*

@waylay-managment-2

*Kthanid's place was a protected place, but Kthanid had given the manager the key and thus walking into it was as as walking through a thick fog.*

*but on the inside it was beautiful. A trail of mountains scraped the underbelly of silvery white clouds. The manager was walking through dirt trails that lead towards the mountain from years of being walked upon lined with natural prairy grasses that reached high for the sun, waving gently in the breeze. The place had to be its own working menagerie of biomes, thousands of square miles of life blooming and chirping and hunting on this landscape. Most humans would have mistaken it for a natural ecosystem, to any god though it was clear that this was a carefully curated garden*

*a raven croaked at them from a nearby bush, cocking its head at them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they looked to the raven and smiled.*

“Hello. Can you point me to Kthanid?”

*even if it was just a regular Raven and not something divine, they liked talking to birds.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it made another croaking sound, "K-tanid" it spoke in a rather deep crackly voice. It repeated the words again, flapping its wings.*

*the raven took off from the bush in a flurry of feathers, and landed heavily on the managers shoulder*

*it stared expectantly at them, and pecked at their shoulder making an "crr?.... Crrr?" Sound*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I’m The Manager. And you are?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it did not respond verbally, instead nuzzling at their hair before hopping to the side to try and stick it's beak into their pockets, flapping its broad wings to stay balanced*

*it was not divine*

*it was still smart enough to purposefully ignore them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and pulled out the pop tab they had picked up off the floor a while ago while walking around, figuring they’d throw it away later and then forgetting.

Then. They continued on the dirt path.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it crooned, using its foot to spin the pop tab around in its beak and inspect it before flying off back into the shrubbery and tall grasses, leaving the manager to their walk.*

*the further and longer they walked the more the swaying prairy dappled with shrubs and the occasional tree started to transition into woodland. Tall green trees creating a cool shadowy canopy where the sun only occasionally dappled the ground between the leaves. The path here was more intentional, tree roots having grown in such a way to hold the dirt up to create natural stairs.*

*a bush rustled, and a pair of canine eyes watched them from up on the path, ears pointed out alertly towards them. A wolf.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and kneeled, looking at its paws instead of its’s eyes. Safer to make yourself look like you’re not a threat when you’re that close.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it watches for a minute, then the raven landed on the wolf's back which it didn't seem to mind, in fact it started to uncertainly trot forward, more curious than aggressive.*

*it sniffed at them, letting out quiet growls and sniffing their pockets*

*it's looking for food*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t have any on them, so they simply stood still, not wanting to create anything in another gods domain with tensions between them already.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*both the wolf and the raven seemed slightly disappointed by the lack of food smell, but after a while of sniffing it sniffed at the managers face and licked them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and scratched the wolf behind the ears.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it growled happily before taking the managers hand into its mouth. Not biting, though the teeth did prick their skin as it tugged them down the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay okay!”

*they let the wolf drag them.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it trots happily, the raven settling in to preen itself while making the odd mimicked word here or there such as "cmon you ding dong!" "Ding ding ding!" "Oooooohhhh man, oh man!" "Woah woah woah!" "Aayyy watch it! Watch it!" That last one was reserved for when the wolf seemed to get excited and jostled the raven around as he chased after some small critter like a rabbit or squirrel, even catching a few where the manager was left to either watch it lay down and eat or continue down the path until the wolf caught up again.*

*it was... how long? The sun was getting low as they finally approached the base of the mountain. Fireflies starting to float up from the bushes and blades of grass, lazily floating across the path in slow blinks. Crickets chirped on and off out of sight. Even the wolf started to slow down, yawning whines occasional. The raven was asleep tucked into the crook of the wolf's neck*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pet the wolf’s head.*

“Go home, friend. Rest.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it pressed into their petting to lick their hand with one last huff, gently stretching (so as to not wake the bird). It looked at them for a few moments before trotting off into the brush again.*

*this did not mean the manager was left alone though. Walking further up the path, now treading upwards of the mountain, up on the ledge to the left of the path, a cougar lounged up on a rock. She eyed them silently, ear flicking.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they bowed to it, closing their eyes, and walked along the path slowly. Big cats generally preferred their privacy.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she watched from afar, eventually getting up to follow The Manager, though keeping her distance she was either up a ledge following or a little ways behind the manager, though most of the time she was out of sight where they couldn't see her, though that didn't mean they weren't being watched.*

*eventually they came to a turn in the road which took a sharp right. The cougar sat in the middle of the path blocking it, staring at them looking a little bored but otherwise watchful.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they again, closed their eyes, getting on their knees and leaving their stomach open.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she walked over to sniff at them, then bat at their face with har large paws with a huff. She was very much calling them stupid, they could feel it radiating off her. Weird stupid creature.*

*with one last smack she trotted off towards a shadowed crevice, one easily missable and off the path. She chuffed, pawing at it while staring at it before walking through it. After a moment she poked her head out again, pawed again before disappearing down the darkened path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed her.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the path got darker and darker until even the Managers eyes couldn't adjust to the pitch black of the path. It was cramped but the mountain lion was still walking up the path. Occasionally huffing quietly which echoed off the walls.*

*they could always turn back toward the well lit trail, or they could trust the darkness here and continue following her*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they trusted her. Besides, they could turn back anytime.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a pause in her steps, clawing at the ground where there seemed to be a drop of some sort, and she jumped, landing a little ways away. She meowed at them, then kept walking*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they got on their hands and knees, feeling for the drop. When they felt it, they stood and took a few steps back to get a running start to their jump..*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they landed on solid ground, a little higher than the ledge they had jumped from but not impossibly high so as to not land on their feet.*

*she meowed again up the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it was again, a little while of walking before it got lighter again, they exited out amidst more woods, another dirt path extending upwards. This time there was light ahead, they were close to being there.*

*the cougar walked up ahead a little quicker now, not waiting for the manager anymore since the path could now be seen.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they jogged to stay close by anyway.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they came up to a small cottage lit by lanterns that glowed warmly in the early night breeze. The dirt path came to be lined with stones and more intentional gardens were in neat rows with food herbs and flowers*

*Kthanid was sitting on the porch holding a warm mug of something sweet, watching The manager approach.*

Evening.

*the cougar passed by him and he pet her as she passed by, going around towards the back of the cottage*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Good evening. I was wondering if I could see Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Of course! She is inside.

*he stands up, lightly brushing a firefly from his shoulder*

I see you've met a few of my helpers? Judgement seemed mildly amused by you.

*He opens the door, entering the home. There was a fireplace being watched by a large dog who raises its head to look at them enter.*

*Lillith was curled up by the fireplace as well, a few drawings of scenes scattered around her. Some were normal gods drawings but others were more disturbing in nature. She was asleep.*

She fell asleep a bit ago, the drawings were from when I asked her to draw some of her visions.

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled, walking over and putting their jacket over her, scratching the dog behind the ears. The movements were done with care. The care of someone who would raise Lillith as their own if needed.

The care of someone who would never rip a child away from her father, too.*

“You have a wonderful home.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the dogs tail thumped lightly against the carpet at being scratched, setting its head back down.*

Thank you, I have worked hard to build this place into a home.

*the dog sighed and Kthanid chuckles*

This is Rhino, he has also helped, especially with keeping me company.

I find better companionship in beasts more than people.

[waylay-managment-2]

“They do seem to be friendlier at times.”

*they looked to him.*

“I just wanted to tell you that Both Emcee and Candy have been removed from The Waylay. Looking at her now, I don’t see a reason to bring her back there, but if she asks. It’s safe now.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Ah, that is good news. We talked and she seemed to lament not seeing a friend named Lili.

she was quite curious of me and liked wandering my gardens. Though I don't think her lack of caution with me was so much that she recognized me as much as she's never been taught to be wary.

*he frowns, a little sadly, at her.*

She has many untaught things that she must learn.

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know. As for Lili, that’s my… that’s Wormwood’s daughter. I took her in until she was about eight, as I thought he was dead, but he showed up a few years ago. As two Lillith’s that had about the same powers, they made fast friends.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I am glad that she hasn't been entirely lonely then.

She seems familiar with her darker powers, but those passed down from me...

*he sighs*

She's been held back in many ways, I'm not sure where to start.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Healing. I don’t know if you can do that, but my brother could.”

*they looked back at Lillith. Something in this situation was making them tear up.*

“It’s um… it’s really important. Especially since she hasn’t learned not to hurt people, it’s important she learns to fix things.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Kthanid held his hand out*

My, are you alright? There is no need to cry.

We all heal with time and love. I... sometimes even i forget.

*he looked over towards Lillith as she stirs in her sleep*

Would you like to take a walk as we chat? You may talk with her in a bit but I think she needs the sleep at the moment.

[waylay-managment-2]

*they nodded and wiped their face, but started talking as soon as the door closed.*

“I’m fine. I’m fine, I swear it’s just…”

*they paused, as if trying to force the words out.*

“She is a spitting image of my daughter. They all are. And I’m used to it. I really am. I’m used to it. But… I guess having the spitting image of my brother right next to one of her put me over the edge.”

*they wiped their tears away, taking a deep breath.*

“Y’know, it’s… sleeping… sleeping looks a lot like sick sometimes… and sometimes sleeping looks a lot like dead too.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Kthanid watches, looking a little curious.*

I...

*he looks back towards the cottage. Lillith was safe and asleep, watched over by the dog. He managed to convince himself it was okay to walk away for just a little bit*

i envy you, and whatever relationship you may have had with your version of me. I wouldn't understand, but I am glad it wasn't like mine.

*he lead The Manager over towards the gardens in the back, where Judgement (the cougar) was lounging and grooming herself. She pays neither of them any mind and Kthanid doesn't acknowledge her either.*

I understand the fear though. Perhaps not with a daughter, but I do find family in the creatures I oversee. Sleep sick or death even I can't tell sometimes.

[waylay-managment-2]

*they just walked with him. Silent for a while.*

“I just don’t know how it happened. I checked, and it wasn’t Kayne. No bacteria or virus could’ve harmed her. But she was coughing. Vomiting. Sick. Bad sick. Sick in a way that was killing her. Not even you could fix it.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*That did truly puzzle Kthanid, not many illnesses would kill a god unless inflicted by another god, or otherwise supernaturally powerful entity.*

Not another god? Or perhaps, and I do not mean this as anything other than speculation, she could have accidentally inflicted it upon herself?

*adult gods do not simply get sick. Especially if it's unfixable by a god even as such as him.*

Ah I don't mean to reopen old wounds. I am terribly sorry for your loss, Manager.

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Manager went looking for Kthanid about a day after it happened. Looking to see if they could find Lillith. Looking to see if they had messed something up.*

@waylay-managment-2

*Kthanid's place was a protected place, but Kthanid had given the manager the key and thus walking into it was as as walking through a thick fog.*

*but on the inside it was beautiful. A trail of mountains scraped the underbelly of silvery white clouds. The manager was walking through dirt trails that lead towards the mountain from years of being walked upon lined with natural prairy grasses that reached high for the sun, waving gently in the breeze. The place had to be its own working menagerie of biomes, thousands of square miles of life blooming and chirping and hunting on this landscape. Most humans would have mistaken it for a natural ecosystem, to any god though it was clear that this was a carefully curated garden*

*a raven croaked at them from a nearby bush, cocking its head at them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they looked to the raven and smiled.*

“Hello. Can you point me to Kthanid?”

*even if it was just a regular Raven and not something divine, they liked talking to birds.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it made another croaking sound, "K-tanid" it spoke in a rather deep crackly voice. It repeated the words again, flapping its wings.*

*the raven took off from the bush in a flurry of feathers, and landed heavily on the managers shoulder*

*it stared expectantly at them, and pecked at their shoulder making an "crr?.... Crrr?" Sound*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I’m The Manager. And you are?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it did not respond verbally, instead nuzzling at their hair before hopping to the side to try and stick it's beak into their pockets, flapping its broad wings to stay balanced*

*it was not divine*

*it was still smart enough to purposefully ignore them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and pulled out the pop tab they had picked up off the floor a while ago while walking around, figuring they’d throw it away later and then forgetting.

Then. They continued on the dirt path.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it crooned, using its foot to spin the pop tab around in its beak and inspect it before flying off back into the shrubbery and tall grasses, leaving the manager to their walk.*

*the further and longer they walked the more the swaying prairy dappled with shrubs and the occasional tree started to transition into woodland. Tall green trees creating a cool shadowy canopy where the sun only occasionally dappled the ground between the leaves. The path here was more intentional, tree roots having grown in such a way to hold the dirt up to create natural stairs.*

*a bush rustled, and a pair of canine eyes watched them from up on the path, ears pointed out alertly towards them. A wolf.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and kneeled, looking at its paws instead of its’s eyes. Safer to make yourself look like you’re not a threat when you’re that close.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it watches for a minute, then the raven landed on the wolf's back which it didn't seem to mind, in fact it started to uncertainly trot forward, more curious than aggressive.*

*it sniffed at them, letting out quiet growls and sniffing their pockets*

*it's looking for food*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t have any on them, so they simply stood still, not wanting to create anything in another gods domain with tensions between them already.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*both the wolf and the raven seemed slightly disappointed by the lack of food smell, but after a while of sniffing it sniffed at the managers face and licked them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and scratched the wolf behind the ears.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it growled happily before taking the managers hand into its mouth. Not biting, though the teeth did prick their skin as it tugged them down the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay okay!”

*they let the wolf drag them.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it trots happily, the raven settling in to preen itself while making the odd mimicked word here or there such as "cmon you ding dong!" "Ding ding ding!" "Oooooohhhh man, oh man!" "Woah woah woah!" "Aayyy watch it! Watch it!" That last one was reserved for when the wolf seemed to get excited and jostled the raven around as he chased after some small critter like a rabbit or squirrel, even catching a few where the manager was left to either watch it lay down and eat or continue down the path until the wolf caught up again.*

*it was... how long? The sun was getting low as they finally approached the base of the mountain. Fireflies starting to float up from the bushes and blades of grass, lazily floating across the path in slow blinks. Crickets chirped on and off out of sight. Even the wolf started to slow down, yawning whines occasional. The raven was asleep tucked into the crook of the wolf's neck*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pet the wolf’s head.*

“Go home, friend. Rest.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it pressed into their petting to lick their hand with one last huff, gently stretching (so as to not wake the bird). It looked at them for a few moments before trotting off into the brush again.*

*this did not mean the manager was left alone though. Walking further up the path, now treading upwards of the mountain, up on the ledge to the left of the path, a cougar lounged up on a rock. She eyed them silently, ear flicking.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they bowed to it, closing their eyes, and walked along the path slowly. Big cats generally preferred their privacy.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she watched from afar, eventually getting up to follow The Manager, though keeping her distance she was either up a ledge following or a little ways behind the manager, though most of the time she was out of sight where they couldn't see her, though that didn't mean they weren't being watched.*

*eventually they came to a turn in the road which took a sharp right. The cougar sat in the middle of the path blocking it, staring at them looking a little bored but otherwise watchful.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they again, closed their eyes, getting on their knees and leaving their stomach open.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she walked over to sniff at them, then bat at their face with har large paws with a huff. She was very much calling them stupid, they could feel it radiating off her. Weird stupid creature.*

*with one last smack she trotted off towards a shadowed crevice, one easily missable and off the path. She chuffed, pawing at it while staring at it before walking through it. After a moment she poked her head out again, pawed again before disappearing down the darkened path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed her.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the path got darker and darker until even the Managers eyes couldn't adjust to the pitch black of the path. It was cramped but the mountain lion was still walking up the path. Occasionally huffing quietly which echoed off the walls.*

*they could always turn back toward the well lit trail, or they could trust the darkness here and continue following her*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they trusted her. Besides, they could turn back anytime.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a pause in her steps, clawing at the ground where there seemed to be a drop of some sort, and she jumped, landing a little ways away. She meowed at them, then kept walking*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they got on their hands and knees, feeling for the drop. When they felt it, they stood and took a few steps back to get a running start to their jump..*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they landed on solid ground, a little higher than the ledge they had jumped from but not impossibly high so as to not land on their feet.*

*she meowed again up the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it was again, a little while of walking before it got lighter again, they exited out amidst more woods, another dirt path extending upwards. This time there was light ahead, they were close to being there.*

*the cougar walked up ahead a little quicker now, not waiting for the manager anymore since the path could now be seen.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they jogged to stay close by anyway.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they came up to a small cottage lit by lanterns that glowed warmly in the early night breeze. The dirt path came to be lined with stones and more intentional gardens were in neat rows with food herbs and flowers*

*Kthanid was sitting on the porch holding a warm mug of something sweet, watching The manager approach.*

Evening.

*the cougar passed by him and he pet her as she passed by, going around towards the back of the cottage*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Good evening. I was wondering if I could see Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Of course! She is inside.

*he stands up, lightly brushing a firefly from his shoulder*

I see you've met a few of my helpers? Judgement seemed mildly amused by you.

*He opens the door, entering the home. There was a fireplace being watched by a large dog who raises its head to look at them enter.*

*Lillith was curled up by the fireplace as well, a few drawings of scenes scattered around her. Some were normal gods drawings but others were more disturbing in nature. She was asleep.*

She fell asleep a bit ago, the drawings were from when I asked her to draw some of her visions.

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled, walking over and putting their jacket over her, scratching the dog behind the ears. The movements were done with care. The care of someone who would raise Lillith as their own if needed.

The care of someone who would never rip a child away from her father, too.*

“You have a wonderful home.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the dogs tail thumped lightly against the carpet at being scratched, setting its head back down.*

Thank you, I have worked hard to build this place into a home.

*the dog sighed and Kthanid chuckles*

This is Rhino, he has also helped, especially with keeping me company.

I find better companionship in beasts more than people.

[waylay-managment-2]

“They do seem to be friendlier at times.”

*they looked to him.*

“I just wanted to tell you that Both Emcee and Candy have been removed from The Waylay. Looking at her now, I don’t see a reason to bring her back there, but if she asks. It’s safe now.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Ah, that is good news. We talked and she seemed to lament not seeing a friend named Lili.

she was quite curious of me and liked wandering my gardens. Though I don't think her lack of caution with me was so much that she recognized me as much as she's never been taught to be wary.

*he frowns, a little sadly, at her.*

She has many untaught things that she must learn.

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know. As for Lili, that’s my… that’s Wormwood’s daughter. I took her in until she was about eight, as I thought he was dead, but he showed up a few years ago. As two Lillith’s that had about the same powers, they made fast friends.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I am glad that she hasn't been entirely lonely then.

She seems familiar with her darker powers, but those passed down from me...

*he sighs*

She's been held back in many ways, I'm not sure where to start.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Healing. I don’t know if you can do that, but my brother could.”

*they looked back at Lillith. Something in this situation was making them tear up.*

“It’s um… it’s really important. Especially since she hasn’t learned not to hurt people, it’s important she learns to fix things.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Kthanid held his hand out*

My, are you alright? There is no need to cry.

We all heal with time and love. I... sometimes even i forget.

*he looked over towards Lillith as she stirs in her sleep*

Would you like to take a walk as we chat? You may talk with her in a bit but I think she needs the sleep at the moment.

[waylay-managment-2]

*they nodded and wiped their face, but started talking as soon as the door closed.*

“I’m fine. I’m fine, I swear it’s just…”

*they paused, as if trying to force the words out.*

“She is a spitting image of my daughter. They all are. And I’m used to it. I really am. I’m used to it. But… I guess having the spitting image of my brother right next to one of her put me over the edge.”

*they wiped their tears away, taking a deep breath.*

“Y’know, it’s… sleeping… sleeping looks a lot like sick sometimes… and sometimes sleeping looks a lot like dead too.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Kthanid watches, looking a little curious.*

I...

*he looks back towards the cottage. Lillith was safe and asleep, watched over by the dog. He managed to convince himself it was okay to walk away for just a little bit*

i envy you, and whatever relationship you may have had with your version of me. I wouldn't understand, but I am glad it wasn't like mine.

*he lead The Manager over towards the gardens in the back, where Judgement (the cougar) was lounging and grooming herself. She pays neither of them any mind and Kthanid doesn't acknowledge her either.*

I understand the fear though. Perhaps not with a daughter, but I do find family in the creatures I oversee. Sleep sick or death even I can't tell sometimes.

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Manager went looking for Kthanid about a day after it happened. Looking to see if they could find Lillith. Looking to see if they had messed something up.*

@waylay-managment-2

*Kthanid's place was a protected place, but Kthanid had given the manager the key and thus walking into it was as as walking through a thick fog.*

*but on the inside it was beautiful. A trail of mountains scraped the underbelly of silvery white clouds. The manager was walking through dirt trails that lead towards the mountain from years of being walked upon lined with natural prairy grasses that reached high for the sun, waving gently in the breeze. The place had to be its own working menagerie of biomes, thousands of square miles of life blooming and chirping and hunting on this landscape. Most humans would have mistaken it for a natural ecosystem, to any god though it was clear that this was a carefully curated garden*

*a raven croaked at them from a nearby bush, cocking its head at them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they looked to the raven and smiled.*

“Hello. Can you point me to Kthanid?”

*even if it was just a regular Raven and not something divine, they liked talking to birds.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it made another croaking sound, "K-tanid" it spoke in a rather deep crackly voice. It repeated the words again, flapping its wings.*

*the raven took off from the bush in a flurry of feathers, and landed heavily on the managers shoulder*

*it stared expectantly at them, and pecked at their shoulder making an "crr?.... Crrr?" Sound*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I’m The Manager. And you are?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it did not respond verbally, instead nuzzling at their hair before hopping to the side to try and stick it's beak into their pockets, flapping its broad wings to stay balanced*

*it was not divine*

*it was still smart enough to purposefully ignore them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and pulled out the pop tab they had picked up off the floor a while ago while walking around, figuring they’d throw it away later and then forgetting.

Then. They continued on the dirt path.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it crooned, using its foot to spin the pop tab around in its beak and inspect it before flying off back into the shrubbery and tall grasses, leaving the manager to their walk.*

*the further and longer they walked the more the swaying prairy dappled with shrubs and the occasional tree started to transition into woodland. Tall green trees creating a cool shadowy canopy where the sun only occasionally dappled the ground between the leaves. The path here was more intentional, tree roots having grown in such a way to hold the dirt up to create natural stairs.*

*a bush rustled, and a pair of canine eyes watched them from up on the path, ears pointed out alertly towards them. A wolf.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and kneeled, looking at its paws instead of its’s eyes. Safer to make yourself look like you’re not a threat when you’re that close.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it watches for a minute, then the raven landed on the wolf's back which it didn't seem to mind, in fact it started to uncertainly trot forward, more curious than aggressive.*

*it sniffed at them, letting out quiet growls and sniffing their pockets*

*it's looking for food*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t have any on them, so they simply stood still, not wanting to create anything in another gods domain with tensions between them already.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*both the wolf and the raven seemed slightly disappointed by the lack of food smell, but after a while of sniffing it sniffed at the managers face and licked them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and scratched the wolf behind the ears.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it growled happily before taking the managers hand into its mouth. Not biting, though the teeth did prick their skin as it tugged them down the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay okay!”

*they let the wolf drag them.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it trots happily, the raven settling in to preen itself while making the odd mimicked word here or there such as "cmon you ding dong!" "Ding ding ding!" "Oooooohhhh man, oh man!" "Woah woah woah!" "Aayyy watch it! Watch it!" That last one was reserved for when the wolf seemed to get excited and jostled the raven around as he chased after some small critter like a rabbit or squirrel, even catching a few where the manager was left to either watch it lay down and eat or continue down the path until the wolf caught up again.*

*it was... how long? The sun was getting low as they finally approached the base of the mountain. Fireflies starting to float up from the bushes and blades of grass, lazily floating across the path in slow blinks. Crickets chirped on and off out of sight. Even the wolf started to slow down, yawning whines occasional. The raven was asleep tucked into the crook of the wolf's neck*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pet the wolf’s head.*

“Go home, friend. Rest.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it pressed into their petting to lick their hand with one last huff, gently stretching (so as to not wake the bird). It looked at them for a few moments before trotting off into the brush again.*

*this did not mean the manager was left alone though. Walking further up the path, now treading upwards of the mountain, up on the ledge to the left of the path, a cougar lounged up on a rock. She eyed them silently, ear flicking.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they bowed to it, closing their eyes, and walked along the path slowly. Big cats generally preferred their privacy.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she watched from afar, eventually getting up to follow The Manager, though keeping her distance she was either up a ledge following or a little ways behind the manager, though most of the time she was out of sight where they couldn't see her, though that didn't mean they weren't being watched.*

*eventually they came to a turn in the road which took a sharp right. The cougar sat in the middle of the path blocking it, staring at them looking a little bored but otherwise watchful.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they again, closed their eyes, getting on their knees and leaving their stomach open.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she walked over to sniff at them, then bat at their face with har large paws with a huff. She was very much calling them stupid, they could feel it radiating off her. Weird stupid creature.*

*with one last smack she trotted off towards a shadowed crevice, one easily missable and off the path. She chuffed, pawing at it while staring at it before walking through it. After a moment she poked her head out again, pawed again before disappearing down the darkened path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed her.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the path got darker and darker until even the Managers eyes couldn't adjust to the pitch black of the path. It was cramped but the mountain lion was still walking up the path. Occasionally huffing quietly which echoed off the walls.*

*they could always turn back toward the well lit trail, or they could trust the darkness here and continue following her*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they trusted her. Besides, they could turn back anytime.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a pause in her steps, clawing at the ground where there seemed to be a drop of some sort, and she jumped, landing a little ways away. She meowed at them, then kept walking*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they got on their hands and knees, feeling for the drop. When they felt it, they stood and took a few steps back to get a running start to their jump..*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they landed on solid ground, a little higher than the ledge they had jumped from but not impossibly high so as to not land on their feet.*

*she meowed again up the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it was again, a little while of walking before it got lighter again, they exited out amidst more woods, another dirt path extending upwards. This time there was light ahead, they were close to being there.*

*the cougar walked up ahead a little quicker now, not waiting for the manager anymore since the path could now be seen.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they jogged to stay close by anyway.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they came up to a small cottage lit by lanterns that glowed warmly in the early night breeze. The dirt path came to be lined with stones and more intentional gardens were in neat rows with food herbs and flowers*

*Kthanid was sitting on the porch holding a warm mug of something sweet, watching The manager approach.*

Evening.

*the cougar passed by him and he pet her as she passed by, going around towards the back of the cottage*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Good evening. I was wondering if I could see Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Of course! She is inside.

*he stands up, lightly brushing a firefly from his shoulder*

I see you've met a few of my helpers? Judgement seemed mildly amused by you.

*He opens the door, entering the home. There was a fireplace being watched by a large dog who raises its head to look at them enter.*

*Lillith was curled up by the fireplace as well, a few drawings of scenes scattered around her. Some were normal gods drawings but others were more disturbing in nature. She was asleep.*

She fell asleep a bit ago, the drawings were from when I asked her to draw some of her visions.

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled, walking over and putting their jacket over her, scratching the dog behind the ears. The movements were done with care. The care of someone who would raise Lillith as their own if needed.

The care of someone who would never rip a child away from her father, too.*

“You have a wonderful home.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the dogs tail thumped lightly against the carpet at being scratched, setting its head back down.*

Thank you, I have worked hard to build this place into a home.

*the dog sighed and Kthanid chuckles*

This is Rhino, he has also helped, especially with keeping me company.

I find better companionship in beasts more than people.

[waylay-managment-2]

“They do seem to be friendlier at times.”

*they looked to him.*

“I just wanted to tell you that Both Emcee and Candy have been removed from The Waylay. Looking at her now, I don’t see a reason to bring her back there, but if she asks. It’s safe now.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Ah, that is good news. We talked and she seemed to lament not seeing a friend named Lili.

she was quite curious of me and liked wandering my gardens. Though I don't think her lack of caution with me was so much that she recognized me as much as she's never been taught to be wary.

*he frowns, a little sadly, at her.*

She has many untaught things that she must learn.

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know. As for Lili, that’s my… that’s Wormwood’s daughter. I took her in until she was about eight, as I thought he was dead, but he showed up a few years ago. As two Lillith’s that had about the same powers, they made fast friends.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I am glad that she hasn't been entirely lonely then.

She seems familiar with her darker powers, but those passed down from me...

*he sighs*

She's been held back in many ways, I'm not sure where to start.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Healing. I don’t know if you can do that, but my brother could.”

*they looked back at Lillith. Something in this situation was making them tear up.*

“It’s um… it’s really important. Especially since she hasn’t learned not to hurt people, it’s important she learns to fix things.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Kthanid held his hand out*

My, are you alright? There is no need to cry.

We all heal with time and love. I... sometimes even i forget.

*he looked over towards Lillith as she stirs in her sleep*

Would you like to take a walk as we chat? You may talk with her in a bit but I think she needs the sleep at the moment.

[waylay-managment-2]

*The first month of "weekly check-ins" Emcee attacked The Manager on sight, clearly refusing to talk in any capacity*

*Observing him afterward, he still seemed otherwise aggravated, tearing through his own home and destroying things, killing the odd servant that hadn't taken the opportunity to hide from the main halls*

(I'm doing a chunk by chunk sort of playthrough of my timeline with this guy to get glimpses into what's happening so it'll jump forward bit by bit until I get to my "main event")

-🎤 ( @rp-sideblog-incorporated )

*so they watched and waited. Waited for him to realize what he’d done.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*It was midway through the second month when The Manager found Emcee curled up in a corner, unmoving and silent. His eyes were open but they were glazed.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t care.*

“Are you ready to admit that stealing a child from their parents, if their parents are loving and kind, is wrong?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there's a long deep sigh in response.*

*he was like that for the next few weeks, silent and unmoving begore he finally did decide to respond to their question*

It's not stealing if she was mind in the first place.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay. Let’s say I believe that she was yours to begin with. Hypothetically, if she wasn’t, would it be morally good to take her?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a long silence.*

I don't care. Why are you dying on this hill?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Because with you, the violence was justified by the voices. But you yourself wanted this. It wasn’t something asking you too, it was you yourself.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he growled, turning his head towards them*

You may take your leave now.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*and they did.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*two more week, about partway through the third month when Emcee was finally up and about again*

*this time he seemed to be searching for something, paying The Manager very little mind as he looked under tables and paced the hallway.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“What are you looking for?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I-

I dont..

*he was still searching, confused.*

Where- where is she?

*he started to make down the hall at a brisk pace*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Where is who?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked terribly sad.*

I... I don't know...

I can't find her...

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kneeled down to him.*

“Emcee. Are you looking for Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked up at them, the cogs turning much too slow before he recognized the name*

Yes! Yes. Lillith, I am looking for.... Lillith...

*he trailed off, staring off into the distance.*

Where... is she?

[waylay-managment-2]

“She’s somewhere safe. She’s with her father.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

what?

No...

No no no NO!

She should be with ME!

I'm her- I'm her.... I'm...

*he clutched his head with a groan, eyes darkening into a glare.*

Get out.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*so they left.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it only seemed to get worse as time went on, confusion turning to desperation, desperation to aggravation.*

*by the time the manager got there at the start of the fourth month, something was already happening *

*people, the servants and "actors" as Emcee called them, were fleeing in terror. There was already blood on the walls and the entire floating island emcee had built from tip to tail shuddered*

*even the centaurpedes looked terrified, hiding away in the little books and crannies they could find*

*there was a scream, and the entire place lurched to the side with a groan, throwing the manager to the side*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they ran to Emcee and yelled his name.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they found him alright because he came crashing straight through the wall. He was barely able to fit inside the hallways even though they were already hugely built*

*another ear peircing screech rattled the building and shattered glass. At first it looked like he was fighting somebody else with how bad he was struggling, throwing and getting thrown off the wall.*

YOU HAVE LIED TO ME

I HAVE BEEN HELPING

IT'S YOUR FAULT SHE'S GONE! YOURS! AND YOU MAKE ME FORGET HER?

IT WAS NECESSARY.

*they crashed through the next wall, the building cocking to its side caused the ceiling to start collapsing in on the manager. They cursed in an ancient tongue of roiling chaos through pitches of reality warping anger, and they were tearing each other apart with it*

THE MANAGER WAS RIGHT. WE'RE HORRIBLE.

[waylay-managment-2]

“No. You’re not. Not all of you.”

*they held the building up to ensure no one else got hurt.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*one (both?) seemed to pause, just now registering the presence of the Manager nearby. But it gave the other enough time.*

*there was a cackle*

*one or both screamed*

*and then there was a horrible tearing of meat and sinews and bones cracking. They whipped each other back and forth in the confusion and pain.*

GET. BACK. HERE.

NO!

*one was pulling away, the other was trying to drag them back into the main mass, the building shook and crumbling ceiling became heavier as more rock collapsed down around them.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Managers tendrils shot out and helped to pull the two apart.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*with one last lurch of the building, the two collapsing into heaps once the split was complete. There was a long and quiet pause as they stared at one another, in awe, in fear, in confusion, enraged. Detangled*

*one darted, the other gave chase.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager got between them, stopping the chasing one.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

NO!

OUT OF MY WAY.

This has nothing to do with you.

*it was smaller even now struggling to get around them with hissing and trying to bite them. The other scrambling down the hallway until it disappeared out of sight.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kicked the thing, trying to net it down.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it screeched, and spread itself apart to worm through the holes of the net, fleeing from the manager to find its other half in another way*

[waylay-managment-2]

*so instead, they went to find the other half first.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it wasn't very hard, or very far. A blood trail streaked across the dusty golden floors, leading towards a small very empty room with ornate carvings in the walls.*

*when the manager found him he seemed to be trying to put his body together, struggling tendrils forming into limbs and humanoid features. Much slower, much more painfully that it should have been. He looked like a wounded animal, shaking covered in blood on the ground.*

*he was sobbing, flinching and whimpering when something inside snapped back into place. He had no strength to get up, let alone put any clothing so he had no clothing to dull the sensations of the cold.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pulled him into their arms, pulling up rock around them so they would be hidden.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee looked at The Manager in fear, confusion, maybe even embarrassment as he couldn't find the strength to sit up. He felt strangely empty, strangely quiet.*

*he gripped them as he dry heaved, there wasn't anything inside himself to throw up but the pressure inside his chest from everything rearranging itself made him nauseous.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. You’re okay.”

*they gently held his shoulders, keeping him steady.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

nnh ghk

Hngno hno no its-

*he choked on his own gag*

I'm so sorryhyhhghg

*he started heaving again between sobs, which knocked the breath out of him with each heave*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, wiping drool from his mouth.*

Nooughh.

No no. You were right. It's wrong, I miss herrrr

*he falls into another fit of sobs, the rest of his words garbled in half hearted attempted to speak drowned out by his own crying.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looks up at the manager, snuffling and shaking*

Is she at least okay?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Yes. She’s perfectly fine.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he let out a deep withering sigh, letting his head drop again.*

Should I have never taken her? Am I really not meant for this?

[waylay-managment-2]

“You are meant for it. But no, you shouldn’t have taken her.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, then startles as The Other dropped down on top of where they were with a snarl, Emcee started shaking badly eyes wide. Despite not seeing it, he could clearly sense it when it was close. It was him after all*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager growled back, holding Emcee closer.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Bring him back. We cannot last like this!

*there was a scratching as it tried to find any way in.*

*Emcee's body had finished morphing into its current more humanoid state. He still had cuts and bruises but his bones had stopped popping into place*

LET. ME. IN.

*there was a bang from outside as it slammed against the rock*

[waylay-managment-2]

“No!”

*they pulled Emcee close.*

“I’ll let you in later!”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee stared wide eyed and useless. He couldn't deny the pulling urge to return, he was also terrified of what would happen if they did.*

I can't stay here.

*The one on the outside, the director, screamed*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know. I’ll let you out in a minute.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Director kept banging against the rock, pacing and hissing in increased anger and maybe even a little desperation*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Emcee. You’re a good person. You are a good person. The director isn’t. But you are.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

But we are two halves of the same whole, tthere's very little hope in that regard.

To keep us separated is USELESS!

*Emcee shook his head, covering his ears*

I'm still a liar and a murderer, our decisions were shared.

[waylay-managment-2]

“But you’re the part that regrets it. He’s the part that doesn’t.”

*they took Emcee’s face in their hands.*

“You deserve to be a father. I’m sorry that your other half, the one who doesn’t regret anything, can’t let you be.”

*the rocks fell away.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee could only sink into the warm touch of their hands, looking scared when the rocks fell away.*

Please

*the director hissed as the rocks fell away, shaking off the dust, growling at them*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Manager went looking for Kthanid about a day after it happened. Looking to see if they could find Lillith. Looking to see if they had messed something up.*

@waylay-managment-2

*Kthanid's place was a protected place, but Kthanid had given the manager the key and thus walking into it was as as walking through a thick fog.*

*but on the inside it was beautiful. A trail of mountains scraped the underbelly of silvery white clouds. The manager was walking through dirt trails that lead towards the mountain from years of being walked upon lined with natural prairy grasses that reached high for the sun, waving gently in the breeze. The place had to be its own working menagerie of biomes, thousands of square miles of life blooming and chirping and hunting on this landscape. Most humans would have mistaken it for a natural ecosystem, to any god though it was clear that this was a carefully curated garden*

*a raven croaked at them from a nearby bush, cocking its head at them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they looked to the raven and smiled.*

“Hello. Can you point me to Kthanid?”

*even if it was just a regular Raven and not something divine, they liked talking to birds.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it made another croaking sound, "K-tanid" it spoke in a rather deep crackly voice. It repeated the words again, flapping its wings.*

*the raven took off from the bush in a flurry of feathers, and landed heavily on the managers shoulder*

*it stared expectantly at them, and pecked at their shoulder making an "crr?.... Crrr?" Sound*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I’m The Manager. And you are?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it did not respond verbally, instead nuzzling at their hair before hopping to the side to try and stick it's beak into their pockets, flapping its broad wings to stay balanced*

*it was not divine*

*it was still smart enough to purposefully ignore them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and pulled out the pop tab they had picked up off the floor a while ago while walking around, figuring they’d throw it away later and then forgetting.

Then. They continued on the dirt path.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it crooned, using its foot to spin the pop tab around in its beak and inspect it before flying off back into the shrubbery and tall grasses, leaving the manager to their walk.*

*the further and longer they walked the more the swaying prairy dappled with shrubs and the occasional tree started to transition into woodland. Tall green trees creating a cool shadowy canopy where the sun only occasionally dappled the ground between the leaves. The path here was more intentional, tree roots having grown in such a way to hold the dirt up to create natural stairs.*

*a bush rustled, and a pair of canine eyes watched them from up on the path, ears pointed out alertly towards them. A wolf.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and kneeled, looking at its paws instead of its’s eyes. Safer to make yourself look like you’re not a threat when you’re that close.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it watches for a minute, then the raven landed on the wolf's back which it didn't seem to mind, in fact it started to uncertainly trot forward, more curious than aggressive.*

*it sniffed at them, letting out quiet growls and sniffing their pockets*

*it's looking for food*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t have any on them, so they simply stood still, not wanting to create anything in another gods domain with tensions between them already.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*both the wolf and the raven seemed slightly disappointed by the lack of food smell, but after a while of sniffing it sniffed at the managers face and licked them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and scratched the wolf behind the ears.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it growled happily before taking the managers hand into its mouth. Not biting, though the teeth did prick their skin as it tugged them down the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay okay!”

*they let the wolf drag them.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it trots happily, the raven settling in to preen itself while making the odd mimicked word here or there such as "cmon you ding dong!" "Ding ding ding!" "Oooooohhhh man, oh man!" "Woah woah woah!" "Aayyy watch it! Watch it!" That last one was reserved for when the wolf seemed to get excited and jostled the raven around as he chased after some small critter like a rabbit or squirrel, even catching a few where the manager was left to either watch it lay down and eat or continue down the path until the wolf caught up again.*

*it was... how long? The sun was getting low as they finally approached the base of the mountain. Fireflies starting to float up from the bushes and blades of grass, lazily floating across the path in slow blinks. Crickets chirped on and off out of sight. Even the wolf started to slow down, yawning whines occasional. The raven was asleep tucked into the crook of the wolf's neck*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pet the wolf’s head.*

“Go home, friend. Rest.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it pressed into their petting to lick their hand with one last huff, gently stretching (so as to not wake the bird). It looked at them for a few moments before trotting off into the brush again.*

*this did not mean the manager was left alone though. Walking further up the path, now treading upwards of the mountain, up on the ledge to the left of the path, a cougar lounged up on a rock. She eyed them silently, ear flicking.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they bowed to it, closing their eyes, and walked along the path slowly. Big cats generally preferred their privacy.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she watched from afar, eventually getting up to follow The Manager, though keeping her distance she was either up a ledge following or a little ways behind the manager, though most of the time she was out of sight where they couldn't see her, though that didn't mean they weren't being watched.*

*eventually they came to a turn in the road which took a sharp right. The cougar sat in the middle of the path blocking it, staring at them looking a little bored but otherwise watchful.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they again, closed their eyes, getting on their knees and leaving their stomach open.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she walked over to sniff at them, then bat at their face with har large paws with a huff. She was very much calling them stupid, they could feel it radiating off her. Weird stupid creature.*

*with one last smack she trotted off towards a shadowed crevice, one easily missable and off the path. She chuffed, pawing at it while staring at it before walking through it. After a moment she poked her head out again, pawed again before disappearing down the darkened path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed her.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the path got darker and darker until even the Managers eyes couldn't adjust to the pitch black of the path. It was cramped but the mountain lion was still walking up the path. Occasionally huffing quietly which echoed off the walls.*

*they could always turn back toward the well lit trail, or they could trust the darkness here and continue following her*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they trusted her. Besides, they could turn back anytime.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a pause in her steps, clawing at the ground where there seemed to be a drop of some sort, and she jumped, landing a little ways away. She meowed at them, then kept walking*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they got on their hands and knees, feeling for the drop. When they felt it, they stood and took a few steps back to get a running start to their jump..*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they landed on solid ground, a little higher than the ledge they had jumped from but not impossibly high so as to not land on their feet.*

*she meowed again up the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it was again, a little while of walking before it got lighter again, they exited out amidst more woods, another dirt path extending upwards. This time there was light ahead, they were close to being there.*

*the cougar walked up ahead a little quicker now, not waiting for the manager anymore since the path could now be seen.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they jogged to stay close by anyway.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they came up to a small cottage lit by lanterns that glowed warmly in the early night breeze. The dirt path came to be lined with stones and more intentional gardens were in neat rows with food herbs and flowers*

*Kthanid was sitting on the porch holding a warm mug of something sweet, watching The manager approach.*

Evening.

*the cougar passed by him and he pet her as she passed by, going around towards the back of the cottage*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Good evening. I was wondering if I could see Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Of course! She is inside.

*he stands up, lightly brushing a firefly from his shoulder*

I see you've met a few of my helpers? Judgement seemed mildly amused by you.

*He opens the door, entering the home. There was a fireplace being watched by a large dog who raises its head to look at them enter.*

*Lillith was curled up by the fireplace as well, a few drawings of scenes scattered around her. Some were normal gods drawings but others were more disturbing in nature. She was asleep.*

She fell asleep a bit ago, the drawings were from when I asked her to draw some of her visions.

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled, walking over and putting their jacket over her, scratching the dog behind the ears. The movements were done with care. The care of someone who would raise Lillith as their own if needed.

The care of someone who would never rip a child away from her father, too.*

“You have a wonderful home.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the dogs tail thumped lightly against the carpet at being scratched, setting its head back down.*

Thank you, I have worked hard to build this place into a home.

*the dog sighed and Kthanid chuckles*

This is Rhino, he has also helped, especially with keeping me company.

I find better companionship in beasts more than people.

[waylay-managment-2]

“They do seem to be friendlier at times.”

*they looked to him.*

“I just wanted to tell you that Both Emcee and Candy have been removed from The Waylay. Looking at her now, I don’t see a reason to bring her back there, but if she asks. It’s safe now.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Ah, that is good news. We talked and she seemed to lament not seeing a friend named Lili.

she was quite curious of me and liked wandering my gardens. Though I don't think her lack of caution with me was so much that she recognized me as much as she's never been taught to be wary.

*he frowns, a little sadly, at her.*

She has many untaught things that she must learn.

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know. As for Lili, that’s my… that’s Wormwood’s daughter. I took her in until she was about eight, as I thought he was dead, but he showed up a few years ago. As two Lillith’s that had about the same powers, they made fast friends.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I am glad that she hasn't been entirely lonely then.

She seems familiar with her darker powers, but those passed down from me...

*he sighs*

She's been held back in many ways, I'm not sure where to start.

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Manager went looking for Kthanid about a day after it happened. Looking to see if they could find Lillith. Looking to see if they had messed something up.*

@waylay-managment-2

*Kthanid's place was a protected place, but Kthanid had given the manager the key and thus walking into it was as as walking through a thick fog.*

*but on the inside it was beautiful. A trail of mountains scraped the underbelly of silvery white clouds. The manager was walking through dirt trails that lead towards the mountain from years of being walked upon lined with natural prairy grasses that reached high for the sun, waving gently in the breeze. The place had to be its own working menagerie of biomes, thousands of square miles of life blooming and chirping and hunting on this landscape. Most humans would have mistaken it for a natural ecosystem, to any god though it was clear that this was a carefully curated garden*

*a raven croaked at them from a nearby bush, cocking its head at them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they looked to the raven and smiled.*

“Hello. Can you point me to Kthanid?”

*even if it was just a regular Raven and not something divine, they liked talking to birds.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it made another croaking sound, "K-tanid" it spoke in a rather deep crackly voice. It repeated the words again, flapping its wings.*

*the raven took off from the bush in a flurry of feathers, and landed heavily on the managers shoulder*

*it stared expectantly at them, and pecked at their shoulder making an "crr?.... Crrr?" Sound*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I’m The Manager. And you are?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it did not respond verbally, instead nuzzling at their hair before hopping to the side to try and stick it's beak into their pockets, flapping its broad wings to stay balanced*

*it was not divine*

*it was still smart enough to purposefully ignore them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and pulled out the pop tab they had picked up off the floor a while ago while walking around, figuring they’d throw it away later and then forgetting.

Then. They continued on the dirt path.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it crooned, using its foot to spin the pop tab around in its beak and inspect it before flying off back into the shrubbery and tall grasses, leaving the manager to their walk.*

*the further and longer they walked the more the swaying prairy dappled with shrubs and the occasional tree started to transition into woodland. Tall green trees creating a cool shadowy canopy where the sun only occasionally dappled the ground between the leaves. The path here was more intentional, tree roots having grown in such a way to hold the dirt up to create natural stairs.*

*a bush rustled, and a pair of canine eyes watched them from up on the path, ears pointed out alertly towards them. A wolf.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and kneeled, looking at its paws instead of its’s eyes. Safer to make yourself look like you’re not a threat when you’re that close.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it watches for a minute, then the raven landed on the wolf's back which it didn't seem to mind, in fact it started to uncertainly trot forward, more curious than aggressive.*

*it sniffed at them, letting out quiet growls and sniffing their pockets*

*it's looking for food*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t have any on them, so they simply stood still, not wanting to create anything in another gods domain with tensions between them already.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*both the wolf and the raven seemed slightly disappointed by the lack of food smell, but after a while of sniffing it sniffed at the managers face and licked them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and scratched the wolf behind the ears.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it growled happily before taking the managers hand into its mouth. Not biting, though the teeth did prick their skin as it tugged them down the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay okay!”

*they let the wolf drag them.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it trots happily, the raven settling in to preen itself while making the odd mimicked word here or there such as "cmon you ding dong!" "Ding ding ding!" "Oooooohhhh man, oh man!" "Woah woah woah!" "Aayyy watch it! Watch it!" That last one was reserved for when the wolf seemed to get excited and jostled the raven around as he chased after some small critter like a rabbit or squirrel, even catching a few where the manager was left to either watch it lay down and eat or continue down the path until the wolf caught up again.*

*it was... how long? The sun was getting low as they finally approached the base of the mountain. Fireflies starting to float up from the bushes and blades of grass, lazily floating across the path in slow blinks. Crickets chirped on and off out of sight. Even the wolf started to slow down, yawning whines occasional. The raven was asleep tucked into the crook of the wolf's neck*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pet the wolf’s head.*

“Go home, friend. Rest.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it pressed into their petting to lick their hand with one last huff, gently stretching (so as to not wake the bird). It looked at them for a few moments before trotting off into the brush again.*

*this did not mean the manager was left alone though. Walking further up the path, now treading upwards of the mountain, up on the ledge to the left of the path, a cougar lounged up on a rock. She eyed them silently, ear flicking.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they bowed to it, closing their eyes, and walked along the path slowly. Big cats generally preferred their privacy.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she watched from afar, eventually getting up to follow The Manager, though keeping her distance she was either up a ledge following or a little ways behind the manager, though most of the time she was out of sight where they couldn't see her, though that didn't mean they weren't being watched.*

*eventually they came to a turn in the road which took a sharp right. The cougar sat in the middle of the path blocking it, staring at them looking a little bored but otherwise watchful.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they again, closed their eyes, getting on their knees and leaving their stomach open.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she walked over to sniff at them, then bat at their face with har large paws with a huff. She was very much calling them stupid, they could feel it radiating off her. Weird stupid creature.*

*with one last smack she trotted off towards a shadowed crevice, one easily missable and off the path. She chuffed, pawing at it while staring at it before walking through it. After a moment she poked her head out again, pawed again before disappearing down the darkened path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed her.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the path got darker and darker until even the Managers eyes couldn't adjust to the pitch black of the path. It was cramped but the mountain lion was still walking up the path. Occasionally huffing quietly which echoed off the walls.*

*they could always turn back toward the well lit trail, or they could trust the darkness here and continue following her*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they trusted her. Besides, they could turn back anytime.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a pause in her steps, clawing at the ground where there seemed to be a drop of some sort, and she jumped, landing a little ways away. She meowed at them, then kept walking*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they got on their hands and knees, feeling for the drop. When they felt it, they stood and took a few steps back to get a running start to their jump..*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they landed on solid ground, a little higher than the ledge they had jumped from but not impossibly high so as to not land on their feet.*

*she meowed again up the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it was again, a little while of walking before it got lighter again, they exited out amidst more woods, another dirt path extending upwards. This time there was light ahead, they were close to being there.*

*the cougar walked up ahead a little quicker now, not waiting for the manager anymore since the path could now be seen.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they jogged to stay close by anyway.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they came up to a small cottage lit by lanterns that glowed warmly in the early night breeze. The dirt path came to be lined with stones and more intentional gardens were in neat rows with food herbs and flowers*

*Kthanid was sitting on the porch holding a warm mug of something sweet, watching The manager approach.*

Evening.

*the cougar passed by him and he pet her as she passed by, going around towards the back of the cottage*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Good evening. I was wondering if I could see Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Of course! She is inside.

*he stands up, lightly brushing a firefly from his shoulder*

I see you've met a few of my helpers? Judgement seemed mildly amused by you.

*He opens the door, entering the home. There was a fireplace being watched by a large dog who raises its head to look at them enter.*

*Lillith was curled up by the fireplace as well, a few drawings of scenes scattered around her. Some were normal gods drawings but others were more disturbing in nature. She was asleep.*

She fell asleep a bit ago, the drawings were from when I asked her to draw some of her visions.

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled, walking over and putting their jacket over her, scratching the dog behind the ears. The movements were done with care. The care of someone who would raise Lillith as their own if needed.

The care of someone who would never rip a child away from her father, too.*

“You have a wonderful home.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the dogs tail thumped lightly against the carpet at being scratched, setting its head back down.*

Thank you, I have worked hard to build this place into a home.

*the dog sighed and Kthanid chuckles*

This is Rhino, he has also helped, especially with keeping me company.

I find better companionship in beasts more than people.

[waylay-managment-2]

“They do seem to be friendlier at times.”

*they looked to him.*

“I just wanted to tell you that Both Emcee and Candy have been removed from The Waylay. Looking at her now, I don’t see a reason to bring her back there, but if she asks. It’s safe now.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Ah, that is good news. We talked and she seemed to lament not seeing a friend named Lili.

she was quite curious of me and liked wandering my gardens. Though I don't think her lack of caution with me was so much that she recognized me as much as she's never been taught to be wary.

*he frowns, a little sadly, at her.*

She has many untaught things that she must learn.

[waylay-managment-2]

*The first month of "weekly check-ins" Emcee attacked The Manager on sight, clearly refusing to talk in any capacity*

*Observing him afterward, he still seemed otherwise aggravated, tearing through his own home and destroying things, killing the odd servant that hadn't taken the opportunity to hide from the main halls*

(I'm doing a chunk by chunk sort of playthrough of my timeline with this guy to get glimpses into what's happening so it'll jump forward bit by bit until I get to my "main event")

-🎤 ( @rp-sideblog-incorporated )

*so they watched and waited. Waited for him to realize what he’d done.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*It was midway through the second month when The Manager found Emcee curled up in a corner, unmoving and silent. His eyes were open but they were glazed.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t care.*

“Are you ready to admit that stealing a child from their parents, if their parents are loving and kind, is wrong?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there's a long deep sigh in response.*

*he was like that for the next few weeks, silent and unmoving begore he finally did decide to respond to their question*

It's not stealing if she was mind in the first place.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay. Let’s say I believe that she was yours to begin with. Hypothetically, if she wasn’t, would it be morally good to take her?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a long silence.*

I don't care. Why are you dying on this hill?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Because with you, the violence was justified by the voices. But you yourself wanted this. It wasn’t something asking you too, it was you yourself.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he growled, turning his head towards them*

You may take your leave now.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*and they did.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*two more week, about partway through the third month when Emcee was finally up and about again*

*this time he seemed to be searching for something, paying The Manager very little mind as he looked under tables and paced the hallway.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“What are you looking for?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I-

I dont..

*he was still searching, confused.*

Where- where is she?

*he started to make down the hall at a brisk pace*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Where is who?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked terribly sad.*

I... I don't know...

I can't find her...

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kneeled down to him.*

“Emcee. Are you looking for Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked up at them, the cogs turning much too slow before he recognized the name*

Yes! Yes. Lillith, I am looking for.... Lillith...

*he trailed off, staring off into the distance.*

Where... is she?

[waylay-managment-2]

“She’s somewhere safe. She’s with her father.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

what?

No...

No no no NO!

She should be with ME!

I'm her- I'm her.... I'm...

*he clutched his head with a groan, eyes darkening into a glare.*

Get out.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*so they left.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it only seemed to get worse as time went on, confusion turning to desperation, desperation to aggravation.*

*by the time the manager got there at the start of the fourth month, something was already happening *

*people, the servants and "actors" as Emcee called them, were fleeing in terror. There was already blood on the walls and the entire floating island emcee had built from tip to tail shuddered*

*even the centaurpedes looked terrified, hiding away in the little books and crannies they could find*

*there was a scream, and the entire place lurched to the side with a groan, throwing the manager to the side*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they ran to Emcee and yelled his name.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they found him alright because he came crashing straight through the wall. He was barely able to fit inside the hallways even though they were already hugely built*

*another ear peircing screech rattled the building and shattered glass. At first it looked like he was fighting somebody else with how bad he was struggling, throwing and getting thrown off the wall.*

YOU HAVE LIED TO ME

I HAVE BEEN HELPING

IT'S YOUR FAULT SHE'S GONE! YOURS! AND YOU MAKE ME FORGET HER?

IT WAS NECESSARY.

*they crashed through the next wall, the building cocking to its side caused the ceiling to start collapsing in on the manager. They cursed in an ancient tongue of roiling chaos through pitches of reality warping anger, and they were tearing each other apart with it*

THE MANAGER WAS RIGHT. WE'RE HORRIBLE.

[waylay-managment-2]

“No. You’re not. Not all of you.”

*they held the building up to ensure no one else got hurt.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*one (both?) seemed to pause, just now registering the presence of the Manager nearby. But it gave the other enough time.*

*there was a cackle*

*one or both screamed*

*and then there was a horrible tearing of meat and sinews and bones cracking. They whipped each other back and forth in the confusion and pain.*

GET. BACK. HERE.

NO!

*one was pulling away, the other was trying to drag them back into the main mass, the building shook and crumbling ceiling became heavier as more rock collapsed down around them.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Managers tendrils shot out and helped to pull the two apart.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*with one last lurch of the building, the two collapsing into heaps once the split was complete. There was a long and quiet pause as they stared at one another, in awe, in fear, in confusion, enraged. Detangled*

*one darted, the other gave chase.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager got between them, stopping the chasing one.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

NO!

OUT OF MY WAY.

This has nothing to do with you.

*it was smaller even now struggling to get around them with hissing and trying to bite them. The other scrambling down the hallway until it disappeared out of sight.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kicked the thing, trying to net it down.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it screeched, and spread itself apart to worm through the holes of the net, fleeing from the manager to find its other half in another way*

[waylay-managment-2]

*so instead, they went to find the other half first.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it wasn't very hard, or very far. A blood trail streaked across the dusty golden floors, leading towards a small very empty room with ornate carvings in the walls.*

*when the manager found him he seemed to be trying to put his body together, struggling tendrils forming into limbs and humanoid features. Much slower, much more painfully that it should have been. He looked like a wounded animal, shaking covered in blood on the ground.*

*he was sobbing, flinching and whimpering when something inside snapped back into place. He had no strength to get up, let alone put any clothing so he had no clothing to dull the sensations of the cold.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pulled him into their arms, pulling up rock around them so they would be hidden.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee looked at The Manager in fear, confusion, maybe even embarrassment as he couldn't find the strength to sit up. He felt strangely empty, strangely quiet.*

*he gripped them as he dry heaved, there wasn't anything inside himself to throw up but the pressure inside his chest from everything rearranging itself made him nauseous.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. You’re okay.”

*they gently held his shoulders, keeping him steady.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

nnh ghk

Hngno hno no its-

*he choked on his own gag*

I'm so sorryhyhhghg

*he started heaving again between sobs, which knocked the breath out of him with each heave*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, wiping drool from his mouth.*

Nooughh.

No no. You were right. It's wrong, I miss herrrr

*he falls into another fit of sobs, the rest of his words garbled in half hearted attempted to speak drowned out by his own crying.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looks up at the manager, snuffling and shaking*

Is she at least okay?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Yes. She’s perfectly fine.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he let out a deep withering sigh, letting his head drop again.*

Should I have never taken her? Am I really not meant for this?

[waylay-managment-2]

“You are meant for it. But no, you shouldn’t have taken her.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, then startles as The Other dropped down on top of where they were with a snarl, Emcee started shaking badly eyes wide. Despite not seeing it, he could clearly sense it when it was close. It was him after all*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager growled back, holding Emcee closer.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Bring him back. We cannot last like this!

*there was a scratching as it tried to find any way in.*

*Emcee's body had finished morphing into its current more humanoid state. He still had cuts and bruises but his bones had stopped popping into place*

LET. ME. IN.

*there was a bang from outside as it slammed against the rock*

[waylay-managment-2]

“No!”

*they pulled Emcee close.*

“I’ll let you in later!”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee stared wide eyed and useless. He couldn't deny the pulling urge to return, he was also terrified of what would happen if they did.*

I can't stay here.

*The one on the outside, the director, screamed*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know. I’ll let you out in a minute.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Director kept banging against the rock, pacing and hissing in increased anger and maybe even a little desperation*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Emcee. You’re a good person. You are a good person. The director isn’t. But you are.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

But we are two halves of the same whole, tthere's very little hope in that regard.

To keep us separated is USELESS!

*Emcee shook his head, covering his ears*

I'm still a liar and a murderer, our decisions were shared.

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Manager went looking for Kthanid about a day after it happened. Looking to see if they could find Lillith. Looking to see if they had messed something up.*

@waylay-managment-2

*Kthanid's place was a protected place, but Kthanid had given the manager the key and thus walking into it was as as walking through a thick fog.*

*but on the inside it was beautiful. A trail of mountains scraped the underbelly of silvery white clouds. The manager was walking through dirt trails that lead towards the mountain from years of being walked upon lined with natural prairy grasses that reached high for the sun, waving gently in the breeze. The place had to be its own working menagerie of biomes, thousands of square miles of life blooming and chirping and hunting on this landscape. Most humans would have mistaken it for a natural ecosystem, to any god though it was clear that this was a carefully curated garden*

*a raven croaked at them from a nearby bush, cocking its head at them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they looked to the raven and smiled.*

“Hello. Can you point me to Kthanid?”

*even if it was just a regular Raven and not something divine, they liked talking to birds.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it made another croaking sound, "K-tanid" it spoke in a rather deep crackly voice. It repeated the words again, flapping its wings.*

*the raven took off from the bush in a flurry of feathers, and landed heavily on the managers shoulder*

*it stared expectantly at them, and pecked at their shoulder making an "crr?.... Crrr?" Sound*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I’m The Manager. And you are?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it did not respond verbally, instead nuzzling at their hair before hopping to the side to try and stick it's beak into their pockets, flapping its broad wings to stay balanced*

*it was not divine*

*it was still smart enough to purposefully ignore them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and pulled out the pop tab they had picked up off the floor a while ago while walking around, figuring they’d throw it away later and then forgetting.

Then. They continued on the dirt path.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it crooned, using its foot to spin the pop tab around in its beak and inspect it before flying off back into the shrubbery and tall grasses, leaving the manager to their walk.*

*the further and longer they walked the more the swaying prairy dappled with shrubs and the occasional tree started to transition into woodland. Tall green trees creating a cool shadowy canopy where the sun only occasionally dappled the ground between the leaves. The path here was more intentional, tree roots having grown in such a way to hold the dirt up to create natural stairs.*

*a bush rustled, and a pair of canine eyes watched them from up on the path, ears pointed out alertly towards them. A wolf.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and kneeled, looking at its paws instead of its’s eyes. Safer to make yourself look like you’re not a threat when you’re that close.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it watches for a minute, then the raven landed on the wolf's back which it didn't seem to mind, in fact it started to uncertainly trot forward, more curious than aggressive.*

*it sniffed at them, letting out quiet growls and sniffing their pockets*

*it's looking for food*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t have any on them, so they simply stood still, not wanting to create anything in another gods domain with tensions between them already.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*both the wolf and the raven seemed slightly disappointed by the lack of food smell, but after a while of sniffing it sniffed at the managers face and licked them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and scratched the wolf behind the ears.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it growled happily before taking the managers hand into its mouth. Not biting, though the teeth did prick their skin as it tugged them down the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay okay!”

*they let the wolf drag them.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it trots happily, the raven settling in to preen itself while making the odd mimicked word here or there such as "cmon you ding dong!" "Ding ding ding!" "Oooooohhhh man, oh man!" "Woah woah woah!" "Aayyy watch it! Watch it!" That last one was reserved for when the wolf seemed to get excited and jostled the raven around as he chased after some small critter like a rabbit or squirrel, even catching a few where the manager was left to either watch it lay down and eat or continue down the path until the wolf caught up again.*

*it was... how long? The sun was getting low as they finally approached the base of the mountain. Fireflies starting to float up from the bushes and blades of grass, lazily floating across the path in slow blinks. Crickets chirped on and off out of sight. Even the wolf started to slow down, yawning whines occasional. The raven was asleep tucked into the crook of the wolf's neck*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pet the wolf’s head.*

“Go home, friend. Rest.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it pressed into their petting to lick their hand with one last huff, gently stretching (so as to not wake the bird). It looked at them for a few moments before trotting off into the brush again.*

*this did not mean the manager was left alone though. Walking further up the path, now treading upwards of the mountain, up on the ledge to the left of the path, a cougar lounged up on a rock. She eyed them silently, ear flicking.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they bowed to it, closing their eyes, and walked along the path slowly. Big cats generally preferred their privacy.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she watched from afar, eventually getting up to follow The Manager, though keeping her distance she was either up a ledge following or a little ways behind the manager, though most of the time she was out of sight where they couldn't see her, though that didn't mean they weren't being watched.*

*eventually they came to a turn in the road which took a sharp right. The cougar sat in the middle of the path blocking it, staring at them looking a little bored but otherwise watchful.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they again, closed their eyes, getting on their knees and leaving their stomach open.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she walked over to sniff at them, then bat at their face with har large paws with a huff. She was very much calling them stupid, they could feel it radiating off her. Weird stupid creature.*

*with one last smack she trotted off towards a shadowed crevice, one easily missable and off the path. She chuffed, pawing at it while staring at it before walking through it. After a moment she poked her head out again, pawed again before disappearing down the darkened path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed her.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the path got darker and darker until even the Managers eyes couldn't adjust to the pitch black of the path. It was cramped but the mountain lion was still walking up the path. Occasionally huffing quietly which echoed off the walls.*

*they could always turn back toward the well lit trail, or they could trust the darkness here and continue following her*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they trusted her. Besides, they could turn back anytime.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a pause in her steps, clawing at the ground where there seemed to be a drop of some sort, and she jumped, landing a little ways away. She meowed at them, then kept walking*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they got on their hands and knees, feeling for the drop. When they felt it, they stood and took a few steps back to get a running start to their jump..*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they landed on solid ground, a little higher than the ledge they had jumped from but not impossibly high so as to not land on their feet.*

*she meowed again up the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it was again, a little while of walking before it got lighter again, they exited out amidst more woods, another dirt path extending upwards. This time there was light ahead, they were close to being there.*

*the cougar walked up ahead a little quicker now, not waiting for the manager anymore since the path could now be seen.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they jogged to stay close by anyway.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they came up to a small cottage lit by lanterns that glowed warmly in the early night breeze. The dirt path came to be lined with stones and more intentional gardens were in neat rows with food herbs and flowers*

*Kthanid was sitting on the porch holding a warm mug of something sweet, watching The manager approach.*

Evening.

*the cougar passed by him and he pet her as she passed by, going around towards the back of the cottage*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Good evening. I was wondering if I could see Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Of course! She is inside.

*he stands up, lightly brushing a firefly from his shoulder*

I see you've met a few of my helpers? Judgement seemed mildly amused by you.

*He opens the door, entering the home. There was a fireplace being watched by a large dog who raises its head to look at them enter.*

*Lillith was curled up by the fireplace as well, a few drawings of scenes scattered around her. Some were normal gods drawings but others were more disturbing in nature. She was asleep.*

She fell asleep a bit ago, the drawings were from when I asked her to draw some of her visions.

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled, walking over and putting their jacket over her, scratching the dog behind the ears. The movements were done with care. The care of someone who would raise Lillith as their own if needed.

The care of someone who would never rip a child away from her father, too.*

“You have a wonderful home.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the dogs tail thumped lightly against the carpet at being scratched, setting its head back down.*

Thank you, I have worked hard to build this place into a home.

*the dog sighed and Kthanid chuckles*

This is Rhino, he has also helped, especially with keeping me company.

I find better companionship in beasts more than people.

[waylay-managment-2]

*The first month of "weekly check-ins" Emcee attacked The Manager on sight, clearly refusing to talk in any capacity*

*Observing him afterward, he still seemed otherwise aggravated, tearing through his own home and destroying things, killing the odd servant that hadn't taken the opportunity to hide from the main halls*

(I'm doing a chunk by chunk sort of playthrough of my timeline with this guy to get glimpses into what's happening so it'll jump forward bit by bit until I get to my "main event")

-🎤 ( @rp-sideblog-incorporated )

*so they watched and waited. Waited for him to realize what he’d done.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*It was midway through the second month when The Manager found Emcee curled up in a corner, unmoving and silent. His eyes were open but they were glazed.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t care.*

“Are you ready to admit that stealing a child from their parents, if their parents are loving and kind, is wrong?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there's a long deep sigh in response.*

*he was like that for the next few weeks, silent and unmoving begore he finally did decide to respond to their question*

It's not stealing if she was mind in the first place.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay. Let’s say I believe that she was yours to begin with. Hypothetically, if she wasn’t, would it be morally good to take her?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a long silence.*

I don't care. Why are you dying on this hill?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Because with you, the violence was justified by the voices. But you yourself wanted this. It wasn’t something asking you too, it was you yourself.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he growled, turning his head towards them*

You may take your leave now.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*and they did.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*two more week, about partway through the third month when Emcee was finally up and about again*

*this time he seemed to be searching for something, paying The Manager very little mind as he looked under tables and paced the hallway.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“What are you looking for?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I-

I dont..

*he was still searching, confused.*

Where- where is she?

*he started to make down the hall at a brisk pace*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Where is who?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked terribly sad.*

I... I don't know...

I can't find her...

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kneeled down to him.*

“Emcee. Are you looking for Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked up at them, the cogs turning much too slow before he recognized the name*

Yes! Yes. Lillith, I am looking for.... Lillith...

*he trailed off, staring off into the distance.*

Where... is she?

[waylay-managment-2]

“She’s somewhere safe. She’s with her father.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

what?

No...

No no no NO!

She should be with ME!

I'm her- I'm her.... I'm...

*he clutched his head with a groan, eyes darkening into a glare.*

Get out.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*so they left.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it only seemed to get worse as time went on, confusion turning to desperation, desperation to aggravation.*

*by the time the manager got there at the start of the fourth month, something was already happening *

*people, the servants and "actors" as Emcee called them, were fleeing in terror. There was already blood on the walls and the entire floating island emcee had built from tip to tail shuddered*

*even the centaurpedes looked terrified, hiding away in the little books and crannies they could find*

*there was a scream, and the entire place lurched to the side with a groan, throwing the manager to the side*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they ran to Emcee and yelled his name.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they found him alright because he came crashing straight through the wall. He was barely able to fit inside the hallways even though they were already hugely built*

*another ear peircing screech rattled the building and shattered glass. At first it looked like he was fighting somebody else with how bad he was struggling, throwing and getting thrown off the wall.*

YOU HAVE LIED TO ME

I HAVE BEEN HELPING

IT'S YOUR FAULT SHE'S GONE! YOURS! AND YOU MAKE ME FORGET HER?

IT WAS NECESSARY.

*they crashed through the next wall, the building cocking to its side caused the ceiling to start collapsing in on the manager. They cursed in an ancient tongue of roiling chaos through pitches of reality warping anger, and they were tearing each other apart with it*

THE MANAGER WAS RIGHT. WE'RE HORRIBLE.

[waylay-managment-2]

“No. You’re not. Not all of you.”

*they held the building up to ensure no one else got hurt.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*one (both?) seemed to pause, just now registering the presence of the Manager nearby. But it gave the other enough time.*

*there was a cackle*

*one or both screamed*

*and then there was a horrible tearing of meat and sinews and bones cracking. They whipped each other back and forth in the confusion and pain.*

GET. BACK. HERE.

NO!

*one was pulling away, the other was trying to drag them back into the main mass, the building shook and crumbling ceiling became heavier as more rock collapsed down around them.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Managers tendrils shot out and helped to pull the two apart.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*with one last lurch of the building, the two collapsing into heaps once the split was complete. There was a long and quiet pause as they stared at one another, in awe, in fear, in confusion, enraged. Detangled*

*one darted, the other gave chase.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager got between them, stopping the chasing one.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

NO!

OUT OF MY WAY.

This has nothing to do with you.

*it was smaller even now struggling to get around them with hissing and trying to bite them. The other scrambling down the hallway until it disappeared out of sight.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kicked the thing, trying to net it down.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it screeched, and spread itself apart to worm through the holes of the net, fleeing from the manager to find its other half in another way*

[waylay-managment-2]

*so instead, they went to find the other half first.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it wasn't very hard, or very far. A blood trail streaked across the dusty golden floors, leading towards a small very empty room with ornate carvings in the walls.*

*when the manager found him he seemed to be trying to put his body together, struggling tendrils forming into limbs and humanoid features. Much slower, much more painfully that it should have been. He looked like a wounded animal, shaking covered in blood on the ground.*

*he was sobbing, flinching and whimpering when something inside snapped back into place. He had no strength to get up, let alone put any clothing so he had no clothing to dull the sensations of the cold.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pulled him into their arms, pulling up rock around them so they would be hidden.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee looked at The Manager in fear, confusion, maybe even embarrassment as he couldn't find the strength to sit up. He felt strangely empty, strangely quiet.*

*he gripped them as he dry heaved, there wasn't anything inside himself to throw up but the pressure inside his chest from everything rearranging itself made him nauseous.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. You’re okay.”

*they gently held his shoulders, keeping him steady.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

nnh ghk

Hngno hno no its-

*he choked on his own gag*

I'm so sorryhyhhghg

*he started heaving again between sobs, which knocked the breath out of him with each heave*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, wiping drool from his mouth.*

Nooughh.

No no. You were right. It's wrong, I miss herrrr

*he falls into another fit of sobs, the rest of his words garbled in half hearted attempted to speak drowned out by his own crying.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looks up at the manager, snuffling and shaking*

Is she at least okay?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Yes. She’s perfectly fine.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he let out a deep withering sigh, letting his head drop again.*

Should I have never taken her? Am I really not meant for this?

[waylay-managment-2]

“You are meant for it. But no, you shouldn’t have taken her.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, then startles as The Other dropped down on top of where they were with a snarl, Emcee started shaking badly eyes wide. Despite not seeing it, he could clearly sense it when it was close. It was him after all*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager growled back, holding Emcee closer.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Bring him back. We cannot last like this!

*there was a scratching as it tried to find any way in.*

*Emcee's body had finished morphing into its current more humanoid state. He still had cuts and bruises but his bones had stopped popping into place*

LET. ME. IN.

*there was a bang from outside as it slammed against the rock*

[waylay-managment-2]

“No!”

*they pulled Emcee close.*

“I’ll let you in later!”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee stared wide eyed and useless. He couldn't deny the pulling urge to return, he was also terrified of what would happen if they did.*

I can't stay here.

*The one on the outside, the director, screamed*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know. I’ll let you out in a minute.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Director kept banging against the rock, pacing and hissing in increased anger and maybe even a little desperation*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Manager went looking for Kthanid about a day after it happened. Looking to see if they could find Lillith. Looking to see if they had messed something up.*

@waylay-managment-2

*Kthanid's place was a protected place, but Kthanid had given the manager the key and thus walking into it was as as walking through a thick fog.*

*but on the inside it was beautiful. A trail of mountains scraped the underbelly of silvery white clouds. The manager was walking through dirt trails that lead towards the mountain from years of being walked upon lined with natural prairy grasses that reached high for the sun, waving gently in the breeze. The place had to be its own working menagerie of biomes, thousands of square miles of life blooming and chirping and hunting on this landscape. Most humans would have mistaken it for a natural ecosystem, to any god though it was clear that this was a carefully curated garden*

*a raven croaked at them from a nearby bush, cocking its head at them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they looked to the raven and smiled.*

“Hello. Can you point me to Kthanid?”

*even if it was just a regular Raven and not something divine, they liked talking to birds.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it made another croaking sound, "K-tanid" it spoke in a rather deep crackly voice. It repeated the words again, flapping its wings.*

*the raven took off from the bush in a flurry of feathers, and landed heavily on the managers shoulder*

*it stared expectantly at them, and pecked at their shoulder making an "crr?.... Crrr?" Sound*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I’m The Manager. And you are?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it did not respond verbally, instead nuzzling at their hair before hopping to the side to try and stick it's beak into their pockets, flapping its broad wings to stay balanced*

*it was not divine*

*it was still smart enough to purposefully ignore them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and pulled out the pop tab they had picked up off the floor a while ago while walking around, figuring they’d throw it away later and then forgetting.

Then. They continued on the dirt path.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it crooned, using its foot to spin the pop tab around in its beak and inspect it before flying off back into the shrubbery and tall grasses, leaving the manager to their walk.*

*the further and longer they walked the more the swaying prairy dappled with shrubs and the occasional tree started to transition into woodland. Tall green trees creating a cool shadowy canopy where the sun only occasionally dappled the ground between the leaves. The path here was more intentional, tree roots having grown in such a way to hold the dirt up to create natural stairs.*

*a bush rustled, and a pair of canine eyes watched them from up on the path, ears pointed out alertly towards them. A wolf.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and kneeled, looking at its paws instead of its’s eyes. Safer to make yourself look like you’re not a threat when you’re that close.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it watches for a minute, then the raven landed on the wolf's back which it didn't seem to mind, in fact it started to uncertainly trot forward, more curious than aggressive.*

*it sniffed at them, letting out quiet growls and sniffing their pockets*

*it's looking for food*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t have any on them, so they simply stood still, not wanting to create anything in another gods domain with tensions between them already.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*both the wolf and the raven seemed slightly disappointed by the lack of food smell, but after a while of sniffing it sniffed at the managers face and licked them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and scratched the wolf behind the ears.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it growled happily before taking the managers hand into its mouth. Not biting, though the teeth did prick their skin as it tugged them down the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay okay!”

*they let the wolf drag them.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it trots happily, the raven settling in to preen itself while making the odd mimicked word here or there such as "cmon you ding dong!" "Ding ding ding!" "Oooooohhhh man, oh man!" "Woah woah woah!" "Aayyy watch it! Watch it!" That last one was reserved for when the wolf seemed to get excited and jostled the raven around as he chased after some small critter like a rabbit or squirrel, even catching a few where the manager was left to either watch it lay down and eat or continue down the path until the wolf caught up again.*

*it was... how long? The sun was getting low as they finally approached the base of the mountain. Fireflies starting to float up from the bushes and blades of grass, lazily floating across the path in slow blinks. Crickets chirped on and off out of sight. Even the wolf started to slow down, yawning whines occasional. The raven was asleep tucked into the crook of the wolf's neck*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pet the wolf’s head.*

“Go home, friend. Rest.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it pressed into their petting to lick their hand with one last huff, gently stretching (so as to not wake the bird). It looked at them for a few moments before trotting off into the brush again.*

*this did not mean the manager was left alone though. Walking further up the path, now treading upwards of the mountain, up on the ledge to the left of the path, a cougar lounged up on a rock. She eyed them silently, ear flicking.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they bowed to it, closing their eyes, and walked along the path slowly. Big cats generally preferred their privacy.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she watched from afar, eventually getting up to follow The Manager, though keeping her distance she was either up a ledge following or a little ways behind the manager, though most of the time she was out of sight where they couldn't see her, though that didn't mean they weren't being watched.*

*eventually they came to a turn in the road which took a sharp right. The cougar sat in the middle of the path blocking it, staring at them looking a little bored but otherwise watchful.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they again, closed their eyes, getting on their knees and leaving their stomach open.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she walked over to sniff at them, then bat at their face with har large paws with a huff. She was very much calling them stupid, they could feel it radiating off her. Weird stupid creature.*

*with one last smack she trotted off towards a shadowed crevice, one easily missable and off the path. She chuffed, pawing at it while staring at it before walking through it. After a moment she poked her head out again, pawed again before disappearing down the darkened path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed her.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the path got darker and darker until even the Managers eyes couldn't adjust to the pitch black of the path. It was cramped but the mountain lion was still walking up the path. Occasionally huffing quietly which echoed off the walls.*

*they could always turn back toward the well lit trail, or they could trust the darkness here and continue following her*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they trusted her. Besides, they could turn back anytime.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a pause in her steps, clawing at the ground where there seemed to be a drop of some sort, and she jumped, landing a little ways away. She meowed at them, then kept walking*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they got on their hands and knees, feeling for the drop. When they felt it, they stood and took a few steps back to get a running start to their jump..*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they landed on solid ground, a little higher than the ledge they had jumped from but not impossibly high so as to not land on their feet.*

*she meowed again up the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it was again, a little while of walking before it got lighter again, they exited out amidst more woods, another dirt path extending upwards. This time there was light ahead, they were close to being there.*

*the cougar walked up ahead a little quicker now, not waiting for the manager anymore since the path could now be seen.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they jogged to stay close by anyway.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they came up to a small cottage lit by lanterns that glowed warmly in the early night breeze. The dirt path came to be lined with stones and more intentional gardens were in neat rows with food herbs and flowers*

*Kthanid was sitting on the porch holding a warm mug of something sweet, watching The manager approach.*

Evening.

*the cougar passed by him and he pet her as she passed by, going around towards the back of the cottage*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Good evening. I was wondering if I could see Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Of course! She is inside.

*he stands up, lightly brushing a firefly from his shoulder*

I see you've met a few of my helpers? Judgement seemed mildly amused by you.

*He opens the door, entering the home. There was a fireplace being watched by a large dog who raises its head to look at them enter.*

*Lillith was curled up by the fireplace as well, a few drawings of scenes scattered around her. Some were normal gods drawings but others were more disturbing in nature. She was asleep.*

She fell asleep a bit ago, the drawings were from when I asked her to draw some of her visions.

[waylay-managment-2]

*The first month of "weekly check-ins" Emcee attacked The Manager on sight, clearly refusing to talk in any capacity*

*Observing him afterward, he still seemed otherwise aggravated, tearing through his own home and destroying things, killing the odd servant that hadn't taken the opportunity to hide from the main halls*

(I'm doing a chunk by chunk sort of playthrough of my timeline with this guy to get glimpses into what's happening so it'll jump forward bit by bit until I get to my "main event")

-🎤 ( @rp-sideblog-incorporated )

*so they watched and waited. Waited for him to realize what he’d done.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*It was midway through the second month when The Manager found Emcee curled up in a corner, unmoving and silent. His eyes were open but they were glazed.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t care.*

“Are you ready to admit that stealing a child from their parents, if their parents are loving and kind, is wrong?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there's a long deep sigh in response.*

*he was like that for the next few weeks, silent and unmoving begore he finally did decide to respond to their question*

It's not stealing if she was mind in the first place.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay. Let’s say I believe that she was yours to begin with. Hypothetically, if she wasn’t, would it be morally good to take her?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a long silence.*

I don't care. Why are you dying on this hill?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Because with you, the violence was justified by the voices. But you yourself wanted this. It wasn’t something asking you too, it was you yourself.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he growled, turning his head towards them*

You may take your leave now.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*and they did.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*two more week, about partway through the third month when Emcee was finally up and about again*

*this time he seemed to be searching for something, paying The Manager very little mind as he looked under tables and paced the hallway.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“What are you looking for?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I-

I dont..

*he was still searching, confused.*

Where- where is she?

*he started to make down the hall at a brisk pace*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Where is who?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked terribly sad.*

I... I don't know...

I can't find her...

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kneeled down to him.*

“Emcee. Are you looking for Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked up at them, the cogs turning much too slow before he recognized the name*

Yes! Yes. Lillith, I am looking for.... Lillith...

*he trailed off, staring off into the distance.*

Where... is she?

[waylay-managment-2]

“She’s somewhere safe. She’s with her father.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

what?

No...

No no no NO!

She should be with ME!

I'm her- I'm her.... I'm...

*he clutched his head with a groan, eyes darkening into a glare.*

Get out.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*so they left.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it only seemed to get worse as time went on, confusion turning to desperation, desperation to aggravation.*

*by the time the manager got there at the start of the fourth month, something was already happening *

*people, the servants and "actors" as Emcee called them, were fleeing in terror. There was already blood on the walls and the entire floating island emcee had built from tip to tail shuddered*

*even the centaurpedes looked terrified, hiding away in the little books and crannies they could find*

*there was a scream, and the entire place lurched to the side with a groan, throwing the manager to the side*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they ran to Emcee and yelled his name.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they found him alright because he came crashing straight through the wall. He was barely able to fit inside the hallways even though they were already hugely built*

*another ear peircing screech rattled the building and shattered glass. At first it looked like he was fighting somebody else with how bad he was struggling, throwing and getting thrown off the wall.*

YOU HAVE LIED TO ME

I HAVE BEEN HELPING

IT'S YOUR FAULT SHE'S GONE! YOURS! AND YOU MAKE ME FORGET HER?

IT WAS NECESSARY.

*they crashed through the next wall, the building cocking to its side caused the ceiling to start collapsing in on the manager. They cursed in an ancient tongue of roiling chaos through pitches of reality warping anger, and they were tearing each other apart with it*

THE MANAGER WAS RIGHT. WE'RE HORRIBLE.

[waylay-managment-2]

“No. You’re not. Not all of you.”

*they held the building up to ensure no one else got hurt.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*one (both?) seemed to pause, just now registering the presence of the Manager nearby. But it gave the other enough time.*

*there was a cackle*

*one or both screamed*

*and then there was a horrible tearing of meat and sinews and bones cracking. They whipped each other back and forth in the confusion and pain.*

GET. BACK. HERE.

NO!

*one was pulling away, the other was trying to drag them back into the main mass, the building shook and crumbling ceiling became heavier as more rock collapsed down around them.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Managers tendrils shot out and helped to pull the two apart.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*with one last lurch of the building, the two collapsing into heaps once the split was complete. There was a long and quiet pause as they stared at one another, in awe, in fear, in confusion, enraged. Detangled*

*one darted, the other gave chase.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager got between them, stopping the chasing one.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

NO!

OUT OF MY WAY.

This has nothing to do with you.

*it was smaller even now struggling to get around them with hissing and trying to bite them. The other scrambling down the hallway until it disappeared out of sight.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kicked the thing, trying to net it down.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it screeched, and spread itself apart to worm through the holes of the net, fleeing from the manager to find its other half in another way*

[waylay-managment-2]

*so instead, they went to find the other half first.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it wasn't very hard, or very far. A blood trail streaked across the dusty golden floors, leading towards a small very empty room with ornate carvings in the walls.*

*when the manager found him he seemed to be trying to put his body together, struggling tendrils forming into limbs and humanoid features. Much slower, much more painfully that it should have been. He looked like a wounded animal, shaking covered in blood on the ground.*

*he was sobbing, flinching and whimpering when something inside snapped back into place. He had no strength to get up, let alone put any clothing so he had no clothing to dull the sensations of the cold.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pulled him into their arms, pulling up rock around them so they would be hidden.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee looked at The Manager in fear, confusion, maybe even embarrassment as he couldn't find the strength to sit up. He felt strangely empty, strangely quiet.*

*he gripped them as he dry heaved, there wasn't anything inside himself to throw up but the pressure inside his chest from everything rearranging itself made him nauseous.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. You’re okay.”

*they gently held his shoulders, keeping him steady.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

nnh ghk

Hngno hno no its-

*he choked on his own gag*

I'm so sorryhyhhghg

*he started heaving again between sobs, which knocked the breath out of him with each heave*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, wiping drool from his mouth.*

Nooughh.

No no. You were right. It's wrong, I miss herrrr

*he falls into another fit of sobs, the rest of his words garbled in half hearted attempted to speak drowned out by his own crying.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looks up at the manager, snuffling and shaking*

Is she at least okay?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Yes. She’s perfectly fine.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he let out a deep withering sigh, letting his head drop again.*

Should I have never taken her? Am I really not meant for this?

[waylay-managment-2]

“You are meant for it. But no, you shouldn’t have taken her.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, then startles as The Other dropped down on top of where they were with a snarl, Emcee started shaking badly eyes wide. Despite not seeing it, he could clearly sense it when it was close. It was him after all*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager growled back, holding Emcee closer.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Bring him back. We cannot last like this!

*there was a scratching as it tried to find any way in.*

*Emcee's body had finished morphing into its current more humanoid state. He still had cuts and bruises but his bones had stopped popping into place*

LET. ME. IN.

*there was a bang from outside as it slammed against the rock*

[waylay-managment-2]

“No!”

*they pulled Emcee close.*

“I’ll let you in later!”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee stared wide eyed and useless. He couldn't deny the pulling urge to return, he was also terrified of what would happen if they did.*

I can't stay here.

*The one on the outside, the director, screamed*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Manager went looking for Kthanid about a day after it happened. Looking to see if they could find Lillith. Looking to see if they had messed something up.*

@waylay-managment-2

*Kthanid's place was a protected place, but Kthanid had given the manager the key and thus walking into it was as as walking through a thick fog.*

*but on the inside it was beautiful. A trail of mountains scraped the underbelly of silvery white clouds. The manager was walking through dirt trails that lead towards the mountain from years of being walked upon lined with natural prairy grasses that reached high for the sun, waving gently in the breeze. The place had to be its own working menagerie of biomes, thousands of square miles of life blooming and chirping and hunting on this landscape. Most humans would have mistaken it for a natural ecosystem, to any god though it was clear that this was a carefully curated garden*

*a raven croaked at them from a nearby bush, cocking its head at them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they looked to the raven and smiled.*

“Hello. Can you point me to Kthanid?”

*even if it was just a regular Raven and not something divine, they liked talking to birds.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it made another croaking sound, "K-tanid" it spoke in a rather deep crackly voice. It repeated the words again, flapping its wings.*

*the raven took off from the bush in a flurry of feathers, and landed heavily on the managers shoulder*

*it stared expectantly at them, and pecked at their shoulder making an "crr?.... Crrr?" Sound*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I’m The Manager. And you are?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it did not respond verbally, instead nuzzling at their hair before hopping to the side to try and stick it's beak into their pockets, flapping its broad wings to stay balanced*

*it was not divine*

*it was still smart enough to purposefully ignore them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and pulled out the pop tab they had picked up off the floor a while ago while walking around, figuring they’d throw it away later and then forgetting.

Then. They continued on the dirt path.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it crooned, using its foot to spin the pop tab around in its beak and inspect it before flying off back into the shrubbery and tall grasses, leaving the manager to their walk.*

*the further and longer they walked the more the swaying prairy dappled with shrubs and the occasional tree started to transition into woodland. Tall green trees creating a cool shadowy canopy where the sun only occasionally dappled the ground between the leaves. The path here was more intentional, tree roots having grown in such a way to hold the dirt up to create natural stairs.*

*a bush rustled, and a pair of canine eyes watched them from up on the path, ears pointed out alertly towards them. A wolf.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and kneeled, looking at its paws instead of its’s eyes. Safer to make yourself look like you’re not a threat when you’re that close.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it watches for a minute, then the raven landed on the wolf's back which it didn't seem to mind, in fact it started to uncertainly trot forward, more curious than aggressive.*

*it sniffed at them, letting out quiet growls and sniffing their pockets*

*it's looking for food*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t have any on them, so they simply stood still, not wanting to create anything in another gods domain with tensions between them already.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*both the wolf and the raven seemed slightly disappointed by the lack of food smell, but after a while of sniffing it sniffed at the managers face and licked them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and scratched the wolf behind the ears.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it growled happily before taking the managers hand into its mouth. Not biting, though the teeth did prick their skin as it tugged them down the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay okay!”

*they let the wolf drag them.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it trots happily, the raven settling in to preen itself while making the odd mimicked word here or there such as "cmon you ding dong!" "Ding ding ding!" "Oooooohhhh man, oh man!" "Woah woah woah!" "Aayyy watch it! Watch it!" That last one was reserved for when the wolf seemed to get excited and jostled the raven around as he chased after some small critter like a rabbit or squirrel, even catching a few where the manager was left to either watch it lay down and eat or continue down the path until the wolf caught up again.*

*it was... how long? The sun was getting low as they finally approached the base of the mountain. Fireflies starting to float up from the bushes and blades of grass, lazily floating across the path in slow blinks. Crickets chirped on and off out of sight. Even the wolf started to slow down, yawning whines occasional. The raven was asleep tucked into the crook of the wolf's neck*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pet the wolf’s head.*

“Go home, friend. Rest.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it pressed into their petting to lick their hand with one last huff, gently stretching (so as to not wake the bird). It looked at them for a few moments before trotting off into the brush again.*

*this did not mean the manager was left alone though. Walking further up the path, now treading upwards of the mountain, up on the ledge to the left of the path, a cougar lounged up on a rock. She eyed them silently, ear flicking.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they bowed to it, closing their eyes, and walked along the path slowly. Big cats generally preferred their privacy.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she watched from afar, eventually getting up to follow The Manager, though keeping her distance she was either up a ledge following or a little ways behind the manager, though most of the time she was out of sight where they couldn't see her, though that didn't mean they weren't being watched.*

*eventually they came to a turn in the road which took a sharp right. The cougar sat in the middle of the path blocking it, staring at them looking a little bored but otherwise watchful.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they again, closed their eyes, getting on their knees and leaving their stomach open.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she walked over to sniff at them, then bat at their face with har large paws with a huff. She was very much calling them stupid, they could feel it radiating off her. Weird stupid creature.*

*with one last smack she trotted off towards a shadowed crevice, one easily missable and off the path. She chuffed, pawing at it while staring at it before walking through it. After a moment she poked her head out again, pawed again before disappearing down the darkened path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed her.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the path got darker and darker until even the Managers eyes couldn't adjust to the pitch black of the path. It was cramped but the mountain lion was still walking up the path. Occasionally huffing quietly which echoed off the walls.*

*they could always turn back toward the well lit trail, or they could trust the darkness here and continue following her*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they trusted her. Besides, they could turn back anytime.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a pause in her steps, clawing at the ground where there seemed to be a drop of some sort, and she jumped, landing a little ways away. She meowed at them, then kept walking*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they got on their hands and knees, feeling for the drop. When they felt it, they stood and took a few steps back to get a running start to their jump..*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they landed on solid ground, a little higher than the ledge they had jumped from but not impossibly high so as to not land on their feet.*

*she meowed again up the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it was again, a little while of walking before it got lighter again, they exited out amidst more woods, another dirt path extending upwards. This time there was light ahead, they were close to being there.*

*the cougar walked up ahead a little quicker now, not waiting for the manager anymore since the path could now be seen.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they jogged to stay close by anyway.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they came up to a small cottage lit by lanterns that glowed warmly in the early night breeze. The dirt path came to be lined with stones and more intentional gardens were in neat rows with food herbs and flowers*

*Kthanid was sitting on the porch holding a warm mug of something sweet, watching The manager approach.*

Evening.

*the cougar passed by him and he pet her as she passed by, going around towards the back of the cottage*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The first month of "weekly check-ins" Emcee attacked The Manager on sight, clearly refusing to talk in any capacity*

*Observing him afterward, he still seemed otherwise aggravated, tearing through his own home and destroying things, killing the odd servant that hadn't taken the opportunity to hide from the main halls*

(I'm doing a chunk by chunk sort of playthrough of my timeline with this guy to get glimpses into what's happening so it'll jump forward bit by bit until I get to my "main event")

-🎤 ( @rp-sideblog-incorporated )

*so they watched and waited. Waited for him to realize what he’d done.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*It was midway through the second month when The Manager found Emcee curled up in a corner, unmoving and silent. His eyes were open but they were glazed.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t care.*

“Are you ready to admit that stealing a child from their parents, if their parents are loving and kind, is wrong?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there's a long deep sigh in response.*

*he was like that for the next few weeks, silent and unmoving begore he finally did decide to respond to their question*

It's not stealing if she was mind in the first place.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay. Let’s say I believe that she was yours to begin with. Hypothetically, if she wasn’t, would it be morally good to take her?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a long silence.*

I don't care. Why are you dying on this hill?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Because with you, the violence was justified by the voices. But you yourself wanted this. It wasn’t something asking you too, it was you yourself.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he growled, turning his head towards them*

You may take your leave now.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*and they did.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*two more week, about partway through the third month when Emcee was finally up and about again*

*this time he seemed to be searching for something, paying The Manager very little mind as he looked under tables and paced the hallway.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“What are you looking for?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I-

I dont..

*he was still searching, confused.*

Where- where is she?

*he started to make down the hall at a brisk pace*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Where is who?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked terribly sad.*

I... I don't know...

I can't find her...

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kneeled down to him.*

“Emcee. Are you looking for Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked up at them, the cogs turning much too slow before he recognized the name*

Yes! Yes. Lillith, I am looking for.... Lillith...

*he trailed off, staring off into the distance.*

Where... is she?

[waylay-managment-2]

“She’s somewhere safe. She’s with her father.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

what?

No...

No no no NO!

She should be with ME!

I'm her- I'm her.... I'm...

*he clutched his head with a groan, eyes darkening into a glare.*

Get out.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*so they left.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it only seemed to get worse as time went on, confusion turning to desperation, desperation to aggravation.*

*by the time the manager got there at the start of the fourth month, something was already happening *

*people, the servants and "actors" as Emcee called them, were fleeing in terror. There was already blood on the walls and the entire floating island emcee had built from tip to tail shuddered*

*even the centaurpedes looked terrified, hiding away in the little books and crannies they could find*

*there was a scream, and the entire place lurched to the side with a groan, throwing the manager to the side*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they ran to Emcee and yelled his name.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they found him alright because he came crashing straight through the wall. He was barely able to fit inside the hallways even though they were already hugely built*

*another ear peircing screech rattled the building and shattered glass. At first it looked like he was fighting somebody else with how bad he was struggling, throwing and getting thrown off the wall.*

YOU HAVE LIED TO ME

I HAVE BEEN HELPING

IT'S YOUR FAULT SHE'S GONE! YOURS! AND YOU MAKE ME FORGET HER?

IT WAS NECESSARY.

*they crashed through the next wall, the building cocking to its side caused the ceiling to start collapsing in on the manager. They cursed in an ancient tongue of roiling chaos through pitches of reality warping anger, and they were tearing each other apart with it*

THE MANAGER WAS RIGHT. WE'RE HORRIBLE.

[waylay-managment-2]

“No. You’re not. Not all of you.”

*they held the building up to ensure no one else got hurt.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*one (both?) seemed to pause, just now registering the presence of the Manager nearby. But it gave the other enough time.*

*there was a cackle*

*one or both screamed*

*and then there was a horrible tearing of meat and sinews and bones cracking. They whipped each other back and forth in the confusion and pain.*

GET. BACK. HERE.

NO!

*one was pulling away, the other was trying to drag them back into the main mass, the building shook and crumbling ceiling became heavier as more rock collapsed down around them.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Managers tendrils shot out and helped to pull the two apart.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*with one last lurch of the building, the two collapsing into heaps once the split was complete. There was a long and quiet pause as they stared at one another, in awe, in fear, in confusion, enraged. Detangled*

*one darted, the other gave chase.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager got between them, stopping the chasing one.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

NO!

OUT OF MY WAY.

This has nothing to do with you.

*it was smaller even now struggling to get around them with hissing and trying to bite them. The other scrambling down the hallway until it disappeared out of sight.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kicked the thing, trying to net it down.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it screeched, and spread itself apart to worm through the holes of the net, fleeing from the manager to find its other half in another way*

[waylay-managment-2]

*so instead, they went to find the other half first.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it wasn't very hard, or very far. A blood trail streaked across the dusty golden floors, leading towards a small very empty room with ornate carvings in the walls.*

*when the manager found him he seemed to be trying to put his body together, struggling tendrils forming into limbs and humanoid features. Much slower, much more painfully that it should have been. He looked like a wounded animal, shaking covered in blood on the ground.*

*he was sobbing, flinching and whimpering when something inside snapped back into place. He had no strength to get up, let alone put any clothing so he had no clothing to dull the sensations of the cold.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pulled him into their arms, pulling up rock around them so they would be hidden.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee looked at The Manager in fear, confusion, maybe even embarrassment as he couldn't find the strength to sit up. He felt strangely empty, strangely quiet.*

*he gripped them as he dry heaved, there wasn't anything inside himself to throw up but the pressure inside his chest from everything rearranging itself made him nauseous.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. You’re okay.”

*they gently held his shoulders, keeping him steady.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

nnh ghk

Hngno hno no its-

*he choked on his own gag*

I'm so sorryhyhhghg

*he started heaving again between sobs, which knocked the breath out of him with each heave*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, wiping drool from his mouth.*

Nooughh.

No no. You were right. It's wrong, I miss herrrr

*he falls into another fit of sobs, the rest of his words garbled in half hearted attempted to speak drowned out by his own crying.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looks up at the manager, snuffling and shaking*

Is she at least okay?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Yes. She’s perfectly fine.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he let out a deep withering sigh, letting his head drop again.*

Should I have never taken her? Am I really not meant for this?

[waylay-managment-2]

“You are meant for it. But no, you shouldn’t have taken her.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, then startles as The Other dropped down on top of where they were with a snarl, Emcee started shaking badly eyes wide. Despite not seeing it, he could clearly sense it when it was close. It was him after all*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager growled back, holding Emcee closer.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

Bring him back. We cannot last like this!

*there was a scratching as it tried to find any way in.*

*Emcee's body had finished morphing into its current more humanoid state. He still had cuts and bruises but his bones had stopped popping into place*

LET. ME. IN.

*there was a bang from outside as it slammed against the rock*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*The Manager went looking for Kthanid about a day after it happened. Looking to see if they could find Lillith. Looking to see if they had messed something up.*

@waylay-managment-2

*Kthanid's place was a protected place, but Kthanid had given the manager the key and thus walking into it was as as walking through a thick fog.*

*but on the inside it was beautiful. A trail of mountains scraped the underbelly of silvery white clouds. The manager was walking through dirt trails that lead towards the mountain from years of being walked upon lined with natural prairy grasses that reached high for the sun, waving gently in the breeze. The place had to be its own working menagerie of biomes, thousands of square miles of life blooming and chirping and hunting on this landscape. Most humans would have mistaken it for a natural ecosystem, to any god though it was clear that this was a carefully curated garden*

*a raven croaked at them from a nearby bush, cocking its head at them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they looked to the raven and smiled.*

“Hello. Can you point me to Kthanid?”

*even if it was just a regular Raven and not something divine, they liked talking to birds.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it made another croaking sound, "K-tanid" it spoke in a rather deep crackly voice. It repeated the words again, flapping its wings.*

*the raven took off from the bush in a flurry of feathers, and landed heavily on the managers shoulder*

*it stared expectantly at them, and pecked at their shoulder making an "crr?.... Crrr?" Sound*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I’m The Manager. And you are?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it did not respond verbally, instead nuzzling at their hair before hopping to the side to try and stick it's beak into their pockets, flapping its broad wings to stay balanced*

*it was not divine*

*it was still smart enough to purposefully ignore them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and pulled out the pop tab they had picked up off the floor a while ago while walking around, figuring they’d throw it away later and then forgetting.

Then. They continued on the dirt path.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it crooned, using its foot to spin the pop tab around in its beak and inspect it before flying off back into the shrubbery and tall grasses, leaving the manager to their walk.*

*the further and longer they walked the more the swaying prairy dappled with shrubs and the occasional tree started to transition into woodland. Tall green trees creating a cool shadowy canopy where the sun only occasionally dappled the ground between the leaves. The path here was more intentional, tree roots having grown in such a way to hold the dirt up to create natural stairs.*

*a bush rustled, and a pair of canine eyes watched them from up on the path, ears pointed out alertly towards them. A wolf.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and kneeled, looking at its paws instead of its’s eyes. Safer to make yourself look like you’re not a threat when you’re that close.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it watches for a minute, then the raven landed on the wolf's back which it didn't seem to mind, in fact it started to uncertainly trot forward, more curious than aggressive.*

*it sniffed at them, letting out quiet growls and sniffing their pockets*

*it's looking for food*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t have any on them, so they simply stood still, not wanting to create anything in another gods domain with tensions between them already.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*both the wolf and the raven seemed slightly disappointed by the lack of food smell, but after a while of sniffing it sniffed at the managers face and licked them*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they smiled and scratched the wolf behind the ears.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it growled happily before taking the managers hand into its mouth. Not biting, though the teeth did prick their skin as it tugged them down the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay okay!”

*they let the wolf drag them.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it trots happily, the raven settling in to preen itself while making the odd mimicked word here or there such as "cmon you ding dong!" "Ding ding ding!" "Oooooohhhh man, oh man!" "Woah woah woah!" "Aayyy watch it! Watch it!" That last one was reserved for when the wolf seemed to get excited and jostled the raven around as he chased after some small critter like a rabbit or squirrel, even catching a few where the manager was left to either watch it lay down and eat or continue down the path until the wolf caught up again.*

*it was... how long? The sun was getting low as they finally approached the base of the mountain. Fireflies starting to float up from the bushes and blades of grass, lazily floating across the path in slow blinks. Crickets chirped on and off out of sight. Even the wolf started to slow down, yawning whines occasional. The raven was asleep tucked into the crook of the wolf's neck*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pet the wolf’s head.*

“Go home, friend. Rest.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it pressed into their petting to lick their hand with one last huff, gently stretching (so as to not wake the bird). It looked at them for a few moments before trotting off into the brush again.*

*this did not mean the manager was left alone though. Walking further up the path, now treading upwards of the mountain, up on the ledge to the left of the path, a cougar lounged up on a rock. She eyed them silently, ear flicking.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they bowed to it, closing their eyes, and walked along the path slowly. Big cats generally preferred their privacy.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she watched from afar, eventually getting up to follow The Manager, though keeping her distance she was either up a ledge following or a little ways behind the manager, though most of the time she was out of sight where they couldn't see her, though that didn't mean they weren't being watched.*

*eventually they came to a turn in the road which took a sharp right. The cougar sat in the middle of the path blocking it, staring at them looking a little bored but otherwise watchful.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they again, closed their eyes, getting on their knees and leaving their stomach open.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*she walked over to sniff at them, then bat at their face with har large paws with a huff. She was very much calling them stupid, they could feel it radiating off her. Weird stupid creature.*

*with one last smack she trotted off towards a shadowed crevice, one easily missable and off the path. She chuffed, pawing at it while staring at it before walking through it. After a moment she poked her head out again, pawed again before disappearing down the darkened path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed her.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*the path got darker and darker until even the Managers eyes couldn't adjust to the pitch black of the path. It was cramped but the mountain lion was still walking up the path. Occasionally huffing quietly which echoed off the walls.*

*they could always turn back toward the well lit trail, or they could trust the darkness here and continue following her*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they trusted her. Besides, they could turn back anytime.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a pause in her steps, clawing at the ground where there seemed to be a drop of some sort, and she jumped, landing a little ways away. She meowed at them, then kept walking*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they got on their hands and knees, feeling for the drop. When they felt it, they stood and took a few steps back to get a running start to their jump..*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they landed on solid ground, a little higher than the ledge they had jumped from but not impossibly high so as to not land on their feet.*

*she meowed again up the path*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they followed.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it was again, a little while of walking before it got lighter again, they exited out amidst more woods, another dirt path extending upwards. This time there was light ahead, they were close to being there.*

*the cougar walked up ahead a little quicker now, not waiting for the manager anymore since the path could now be seen.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The first month of "weekly check-ins" Emcee attacked The Manager on sight, clearly refusing to talk in any capacity*

*Observing him afterward, he still seemed otherwise aggravated, tearing through his own home and destroying things, killing the odd servant that hadn't taken the opportunity to hide from the main halls*

(I'm doing a chunk by chunk sort of playthrough of my timeline with this guy to get glimpses into what's happening so it'll jump forward bit by bit until I get to my "main event")

-🎤 ( @rp-sideblog-incorporated )

*so they watched and waited. Waited for him to realize what he’d done.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*It was midway through the second month when The Manager found Emcee curled up in a corner, unmoving and silent. His eyes were open but they were glazed.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they didn’t care.*

“Are you ready to admit that stealing a child from their parents, if their parents are loving and kind, is wrong?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there's a long deep sigh in response.*

*he was like that for the next few weeks, silent and unmoving begore he finally did decide to respond to their question*

It's not stealing if she was mind in the first place.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay. Let’s say I believe that she was yours to begin with. Hypothetically, if she wasn’t, would it be morally good to take her?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*there was a long silence.*

I don't care. Why are you dying on this hill?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Because with you, the violence was justified by the voices. But you yourself wanted this. It wasn’t something asking you too, it was you yourself.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he growled, turning his head towards them*

You may take your leave now.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*and they did.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*two more week, about partway through the third month when Emcee was finally up and about again*

*this time he seemed to be searching for something, paying The Manager very little mind as he looked under tables and paced the hallway.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“What are you looking for?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

I-

I dont..

*he was still searching, confused.*

Where- where is she?

*he started to make down the hall at a brisk pace*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Where is who?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked terribly sad.*

I... I don't know...

I can't find her...

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kneeled down to him.*

“Emcee. Are you looking for Lillith?”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looked up at them, the cogs turning much too slow before he recognized the name*

Yes! Yes. Lillith, I am looking for.... Lillith...

*he trailed off, staring off into the distance.*

Where... is she?

[waylay-managment-2]

“She’s somewhere safe. She’s with her father.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

what?

No...

No no no NO!

She should be with ME!

I'm her- I'm her.... I'm...

*he clutched his head with a groan, eyes darkening into a glare.*

Get out.

[waylay-managment-2]

“Okay.”

*so they left.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it only seemed to get worse as time went on, confusion turning to desperation, desperation to aggravation.*

*by the time the manager got there at the start of the fourth month, something was already happening *

*people, the servants and "actors" as Emcee called them, were fleeing in terror. There was already blood on the walls and the entire floating island emcee had built from tip to tail shuddered*

*even the centaurpedes looked terrified, hiding away in the little books and crannies they could find*

*there was a scream, and the entire place lurched to the side with a groan, throwing the manager to the side*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they ran to Emcee and yelled his name.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*they found him alright because he came crashing straight through the wall. He was barely able to fit inside the hallways even though they were already hugely built*

*another ear peircing screech rattled the building and shattered glass. At first it looked like he was fighting somebody else with how bad he was struggling, throwing and getting thrown off the wall.*

YOU HAVE LIED TO ME

I HAVE BEEN HELPING

IT'S YOUR FAULT SHE'S GONE! YOURS! AND YOU MAKE ME FORGET HER?

IT WAS NECESSARY.

*they crashed through the next wall, the building cocking to its side caused the ceiling to start collapsing in on the manager. They cursed in an ancient tongue of roiling chaos through pitches of reality warping anger, and they were tearing each other apart with it*

THE MANAGER WAS RIGHT. WE'RE HORRIBLE.

[waylay-managment-2]

“No. You’re not. Not all of you.”

*they held the building up to ensure no one else got hurt.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*one (both?) seemed to pause, just now registering the presence of the Manager nearby. But it gave the other enough time.*

*there was a cackle*

*one or both screamed*

*and then there was a horrible tearing of meat and sinews and bones cracking. They whipped each other back and forth in the confusion and pain.*

GET. BACK. HERE.

NO!

*one was pulling away, the other was trying to drag them back into the main mass, the building shook and crumbling ceiling became heavier as more rock collapsed down around them.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Managers tendrils shot out and helped to pull the two apart.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*with one last lurch of the building, the two collapsing into heaps once the split was complete. There was a long and quiet pause as they stared at one another, in awe, in fear, in confusion, enraged. Detangled*

*one darted, the other gave chase.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager got between them, stopping the chasing one.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

NO!

OUT OF MY WAY.

This has nothing to do with you.

*it was smaller even now struggling to get around them with hissing and trying to bite them. The other scrambling down the hallway until it disappeared out of sight.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they kicked the thing, trying to net it down.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it screeched, and spread itself apart to worm through the holes of the net, fleeing from the manager to find its other half in another way*

[waylay-managment-2]

*so instead, they went to find the other half first.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*it wasn't very hard, or very far. A blood trail streaked across the dusty golden floors, leading towards a small very empty room with ornate carvings in the walls.*

*when the manager found him he seemed to be trying to put his body together, struggling tendrils forming into limbs and humanoid features. Much slower, much more painfully that it should have been. He looked like a wounded animal, shaking covered in blood on the ground.*

*he was sobbing, flinching and whimpering when something inside snapped back into place. He had no strength to get up, let alone put any clothing so he had no clothing to dull the sensations of the cold.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*they gently pulled him into their arms, pulling up rock around them so they would be hidden.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*Emcee looked at The Manager in fear, confusion, maybe even embarrassment as he couldn't find the strength to sit up. He felt strangely empty, strangely quiet.*

*he gripped them as he dry heaved, there wasn't anything inside himself to throw up but the pressure inside his chest from everything rearranging itself made him nauseous.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. You’re okay.”

*they gently held his shoulders, keeping him steady.*

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

nnh ghk

Hngno hno no its-

*he choked on his own gag*

I'm so sorryhyhhghg

*he started heaving again between sobs, which knocked the breath out of him with each heave*

[waylay-managment-2]

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, wiping drool from his mouth.*

Nooughh.

No no. You were right. It's wrong, I miss herrrr

*he falls into another fit of sobs, the rest of his words garbled in half hearted attempted to speak drowned out by his own crying.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“I know.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he looks up at the manager, snuffling and shaking*

Is she at least okay?

[waylay-managment-2]

“Yes. She’s perfectly fine.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he let out a deep withering sigh, letting his head drop again.*

Should I have never taken her? Am I really not meant for this?

[waylay-managment-2]

“You are meant for it. But no, you shouldn’t have taken her.”

[rp-sideblog-incorporated]

*he shakes his head, then startles as The Other dropped down on top of where they were with a snarl, Emcee started shaking badly eyes wide. Despite not seeing it, he could clearly sense it when it was close. It was him after all*